should the fear of being labelled and brandished and having a stigma make you think twice about pursuing help?

Question

for your mental health problems?
i have bpd and are experiencing some traumatic symptoms right now. paranoia, anger, racing thoughts, low depressive moods. high levels of anxiety that are keeping me apartment bound. rage feelings from the past, unresolved issues, feelings of persecution..

ive just spoke to my cpn about this, told him im concerned and that these symptoms are dibilitating and impairing my ability to live my life and that i need more help.

so hes set up another meeting with my psychiatrist.

ive had these problems since 16, and no doubt have a mental health histrory. but as i go forward now and try to get the right help i worry will i be branded, labelled, have a stigma?
is my life ruined as regard employment oppurtunities?

my other goal is to emigrate from britain, go back to france or further out, but because of my mental health history and this disorder is accomplishing that goal ruined to now all because of my disorder & mental health history?
im 30 now

Answer 1

You should never worry about what others think of you, YOU are the one that is important. If people judge you, based on the hand you have been dealt, then they are not, and never were your friends. There are many shallow people in the world, and phsyciatric information is totally privat, and cannot be used against you in employment. You can say you have gone to a therapist, etc, but you do not ever have to reveal why. There are privacy laws that prevent personal information from being revealed to anyone. Because of the anonymity here, no one will ever be able to place you with a potential job, or anything else, as you could be one of a million people seeking friendship and help here. Go get the help you need and deserve, you are a young man with the whole world to conquer, go get it and stop worrying about what others will think. Unless they are paying your rent, buying your cloths, feeding you, taking care of you, tell them to go to hell and even then, they have to learn that you are your own person and demand respect for who you are,wether they like it or not

Answer 2

If you compare the amount of Bi-Polar diagnosis NOW to those reported 30 years ago, you will notice that it seems to have increased two-fold. Patients often felt what you described--stigma, embarassment and hopeless and helpless.

Bi-polar is become a more excepted condition. It Is NOT your fault. You did not ask to get this. There is a chemical imbalance in your brain. You need to get to a psychiatrist and start on medications that can make you start to feel better. Sometimes this may mean trying different medications until you find the one that works for you.
If you feel motivated---get some exercise, try to get 7-8 hours sleep and keep your stress level to a minimum. Besides seeing a psychiatrist, it may help to go to counseling as well as group therapy. You'll be amazed that talking to others who have the same condition will help you!

Do not give up hope, you can be treated. Look at the list of the following famous people who ALL have been diagnosed with Bi-polar

Famous People with Bipolar Disorder
Much of this list was obtained from the Internet.

Actors & Actresses

Ned Beatty
Maurice Bernard, soap opera
Jeremy Brett
Jim Carey
Lisa Nicole Carson
Rosemary Clooney, singer
Lindsay Crosby
Eric Douglas
Robert Downey Jr.
Patty Duke
Carrie Fisher
Connie Francis, singer and actress
Shecky Greene, comedian
Linda Hamilton
Moss Hart, actor, director, playright
Mariette Hartley
Margot Kidder
Vivien Leigh
Kevin McDonald, comedian
Kristy McNichols
Burgess Meredith, actor, director
Spike Milligan, actor, writer
Spike Mulligan, comic actor and writer
Nicola Pagett
Ben Stiller, actor, director, writer
David Strickland
Lili Taylor
Tracy Ullman
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Robin Williams
Jonathon Winters, comedian

Artists

Alvin Alley, dancer, choreogapher
Ludwig Von Beethoven
Tim Burton, artist, director
Francis Ford Coppola, director
George Fredrick Handel, composer
Bill Lichtenstein, producer
Joshua Logan, broadway director, producer
Vincent Van Gogh, painter
Gustav Mahier, composer
Francesco Scavullo, artist, photographer
Robert Schumann, composer
Don Simpson, movie producer
Norman Wexler, screenwriter, playwright

Entrepreneurs

Robert Campeau
Pierre Peladeau
Heinz C. Prechter
Ted Turner, media giant

Financiers

John Mulheren
Murray Pezim

Miscellaneous

Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
Clifford Beers, humanitarian
Garnet Coleman, legislator (Texas)
Larry Flynt, publisher and activist
Kit Gingrich, Newt's mom
Phil Graham, owner of Washington Post
Peter Gregg, team owner and manager, race car driver
Susan Panico (Susan Dime-Meenan), business executive
Sol Wachtier, former New York State Chief Judge

Musicians

Ludwig van Beethoven, composer
Alohe Jean Burke, musician, vocalist
Rosemary Clooney, singer
DMX Earl Simmons, rapper and actor
Ray Davies
Lenny Dee
Gaetano Donizetti, opera singer
Peter Gabriel
Jimi Hendrix
Kristen Hersh (Throwing Muses)
Phyllis Hyman
Jack Irons
Daniel Johnston
Otto Klemperer, musician, conductor
Oscar Levant, pianist, composer, television
Phil Ochs, musician, political activist, poet
John Ogden, composer, musician
Jaco Pastorius
Charley Pride
Mac Rebennack (Dr. John)
Jeannie C. Riley
Alys Robi, vocalist in Canada
Axl Rose
Nick Traina
Del Shannon
Phil Spector, musician and producer
Sting, Gordon Sumner, musician, composer
Tom Waits, musician, composer
Brian Wilson, musician, composer, arranger
Townes Van Zandt, musician, composer

Poets

John Berryman
C.E. Chaffin, writer, poet
Hart Crane
Randall Jarrell
Jane Kenyon
Robert Lowell
Sylvia Plath
Robert Schumann
Delmore Schwartz

Political

Robert Boorstin, special assistant to President Clinton
L. Brent Bozell, political scientist, attorney, writer
Bob Bullock, ex secretary of state, state comptroller and lieutenant governer
Winston Churchill
Kitty Dukasis, former First Lady of Massachusetts
Thomas Eagleton, lawyer, former U.S. Senator
Lynne Rivers, U.S. Congress
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States


Scholars

John Strugnell, biblical scholar

Scientists

Karl Paul Link, chemist
Dimitri Mihalas

Sports

Shelley Beattie, bodybuilding, sailing
John Daly, golf
Muffin Spencer-Devlin, pro golf
Ilie Nastase, tennis
Jimmy Piersail, baseball player, Boston Red Sox, sports announcer
Barret Robbins, football
Wyatt Sexton, football
Alonzo Spellman, football
Darryl Strawberry, baseball
Dimitrius Underwood, football
Luther Wright, basketball
Bert Yancey, athlete


TV & Radio

Dick Cavett
Jay Marvin, radio, writer
Jane Pauley

Writers

Louis Althusser, philosopher, writer
Honors de Balzac
Art Buchwald, writer, humorist
Neal Cassady
Patricia Cornwell
Margot Early
Kaye Gibbons
Johann Goethe
Graham Greene
Abbie Hoffman, writer, political activist
Kay Redfield Jamison, writer, psychologist
Peter Nolan Lawrence
Frances Lear, writer, editor, women's rights activist
Rika Lesser, writer, translator
Kate Millet
Robert Munsch
Margo Orum
Edgar Allen Poe
Theodore Roethke
Lori Schiller, writer, educator
Frances Sherwood
Scott Simmie, writer, journalist
August Strindberg
Mark Twain
Joseph Vasquez, writer, movie director
Mark Vonnegut, doctor, writer
Sol Wachtler, writer, judge
Mary Jane Ward
Virginia Woolf

You are with a group of some very creative, successful individuals!!!!

Good Luck

Answer 3

I'm no expert pal but can understand the fear of persecution , branding etc . I don't know how any medical history can affect the chances of emigrating etc but all I can say is that without help I don't think the bpd will diminish any . Such disorders can spiral way out of control and I'd say unless someone helps you fight that straight on and control it then in time you could find life harder and harder to cope with , wherever you live, be it here , France or further afield.
At least by seeking professional help you have a chance of being the best and happiest you can , without it you may get into a rut and become enveloped in your problems and hopelessness and ultimately not get out . If you forego treatment and to move to France you wouldn't necessary feel any happier , you'd still need the bpd treated .
As for moving abroad , countries have different age restrictions for working VISA's etc and it depends on what your employment history is , type of work , experience etc . The borders between countries in Europe have obviously lessened in the past years and you will find VISA requirements etc on the web
I don't think the stigma for mental illness is as evident as it was say 10 years ago, be it due to the media or more available statistics. Hope this has helped a wee bit atleast . Good luck in whatever you decide.

Answer 4

well many years ago, i felt the same. i refused to get help for the same reasons, also the thought of taking tablets just upset me.
it got to a point where i had to go to the doctors and seek help. i had been prescribed various ant depressants, some did not work, they made me feel worse. finally there was one. that works. its called citalopram. and well i would be lost with out it. now i dont mind admitting i suffer from clinical depression. the citalopram keeps me balanced. they dont stop me from feeling and reacting. im just far more rashnal. many people beleave that if your on antidepressants that you are spaced out. this has not been the case with myself or anybody i know that are on antidepressants. mental health problems are becoming more accepted by society. its more common. and although you may not realise but lots of people passing you on the street, stangers are in the same place mentally you are. dont waste your time thinking bout stigma, stereo types. stand up, hold your head high and get help. you will be relefed when you do. besides which who has to know.
lurve ya honey
goodluck
xxx

Answer 5

no! some of the things that beleaguer you will be treated with therapy and many people will start to see you in a better light because it is a CHANGE! that is the most important thing you can do right now... stop yourself from being in limbo and unable to do anything, because one step forward is all it takes...uh oh, i just felt a poem coming on:

one step forward is all it takes
soon you're walking through the gates
one step back could complicate
but if i get there first, i'll wait
one step away from your dreams and plans
lies an ocean of quicksand
don't worry, though, i've got your hand
and i'm pulling you up to the promised land

step by step the journey ends
from weary bodies souls ascend...

Answer 6

There are laws in the USA that protect you from having your health information being disclosed to people who aren't involved in your treatment. There are also laws that protect mentally ill people from discrimination.

I'm not sure how it works in other countries.

Answer 7

I have had to do just that. While I don't often talk about my issues, I don't hide them either. I've learned not to care what other people think about me.

For me to care what they think I must hold them in some esteem and if they are going to criticise me about issues such as this they don't deserve my respect and I cease caring what they say

Answer 8

To answer you headline question, yes.

Re: the rest; oh.