How do you feel about the use of the word "Manic" in everyday life?
Oftentimes, I'm sure a lot of us have heard people say things like:
The weather is bipolar.
Oh my gosh, she is so bipolar. Her mood swings are insane.
And people don't mean to do it, but often, it can be a bit triggering and upsetting because it demonstrates to us how little people actually know about Bipolar Disorder. Using it so casually can be hurtful.
I've observed some people using the term "manic" in everyday life, such as:
This chatroom is so manic.
Personally, it kind of irks me because "mania" and "manic" to me are very personal, and very related to Bipolar Disorder. In fact, I can't even think about it as not related to BD in the slightest. This is just a personal opinion, of course, but I wanted to hear you share your thoughts on this.
It bothers me, but in the end I just accept that its just an expression, and they dont mean it in the way i think they do.
@planti
That's very understanding of you. Thanks so much for your response, I really appreciate it! I agree that at the end of the day that it's ultimately not meant to be malicious or harmful, and it's good to be understanding of others.
I appreciate you getting involved in our Forum!
Lee.
Because I have BPD too, I get angry and sometimes get in fight with the person who used the triggering word. So yeah, it's triggering for me.
I agree with @planti, for me it is just an expression that doesn't bother me. It reflects a lack of understanding, yes, but isn't designed to be hurtful. Once upon a time, I used to be offended by words like "nuts" and "schizo", especially when they are used improperly. But these things don't bother me any more, hell, I even joke myself sometimes about these things.
I used to get upset when people referred themselves as "antisocial" for any reason, not knowing the basis of the diagnosis, but its not meant to be taken literal, therefore I dont give it much thought! I also use them sometimes!
I completely agree with you. Bipolar is vastly misunderstood and misrepresented by the media. There is so much stigma out there and especially in regards to the terms used to categorize bipolar disorder is used in everyday speech but meaning a different thing. It really adds further towards the stigma of the illness.
Change in the perception of BD is slowly changing, however, the key is education and as nowadays people are more open about mental illness and getting more accepting i believe that slowly BD will have less of a stigma against it. Great post !
I wanted to BUMP this post and get the conversation pumping again.
Ever since I have been diagnosed with Bipolar I have found these statements to be offending as mania is a real thing that I struggle with. You wouldn't hear someone say something like "This chatroom has a cancer in it" or anything of the sort, but yet it is perfectly normal to use the words manic or mania to describe something/someone who is high energy.
@Quinzel241 TW, slurs, toxic people on the internet (?)
People do use "cancer" to describe things. Usually if a fanbase or comunity is toxic, people use the word "Cancerous" to decribe it. Ive also heard people say "You are/this is pure cancer" (https://sv.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cancerous). Ive heard it for the most part in the youtube commentary comunity, where they also use autistic/autism as a common slur. They use it for anyone who they think is diffrent, or anyone they dont understand really.
The internet has many terrible people, i know.
I have bipolar, adhd, GAD, Aspergers (or autism spectrum disorder) and im not offended by people using "Manic" "Crazy" "Oh, the autism/too much autism for me, imo", "Im sooo depressed/ADD/bipolar". It just gets me so incredibly tierd and sad, but i know ive said those things once or twice as well. (Is it ok to use the words when you can reclaim them? I dont know)
It does offend me when people say theese things "But youre not like... Crazy or anything, right? ", "You dont need thoose diagnoses/meds, you seem fine to me"," its just a recent trend, it seems that everyone has something theese days" or when they tell me that i have to "Snap out of it/ just relax" Because then its just completly clear to me how little they understand, and how much people in general dont even try to understand.
So i have to "educate" people... wich is always necesary but never fun (kinda fun when im hypomanic, because i love the attention and to "make people smarter" then). Breaking the stigma is hard work... It feels very lonley. I know im not alone though, there are so many brave mental health activists out there and i have a tremendous respect for you all.
@Quinzel241 exactly!
We hear people joking about it with common expressions, like calling someone bipolar if they have mood swings. BD is more than that and in my mind, mania is only associated with Bipolar Disorder. However i get that it's just an expression, and people that actually have the disorder should try to not take it seriously :)
I understand that is an expression. But I still find it inappropriate to use mental disorders or slurs to describe how you are feeling. Or to describe something. When people say you're so bipolar because someone is angry after being happy. When bipolar isn't always being angry all of a sudden. I think it's a lot of misunderstanding about what the mental disorders really are. And how tough they really are to deal with. I think when someone uses a mental disorder or slur of one to describe something, we should educate them on why that's upsetting.
@Lee
Personally, I just recently got a diagnosis of Bipolar II and before this diagnosis and now even after, I still often hear "bipolar" or "manic" being used as negative adjectives. I'm not too sure how I feel about it half the time, I feel if I correct someone, I'd come across too sensitive, but now I'm starting to realise that addressing ignorant statements can be an important first step to narrowing the stigma
@ApricityLife Yet more stuff we have in common! Am I following you, or are you following me? Hahahahaha. I hope you don't feel as if I am Cups-stalking you....
@ladylazarus1971
hahahah you're all good- it's awesome seeing you in the forums :D
I do agree with you. Casually throwing around such terms as manic or bipolar does bother me. But things are changing and awareness is needed to reduce stigma and maximize support for people with mental illness.