How to eliminate Bipolar disorder stigma

Hi ! I think this is really one of the biggest issue when it comes to every Mental Health Disorder. Thank you for addressing it <3

1. Have you ever experienced to be labeled for your condition? How was it?

Yes, I have and it had been unpleasant and discouraging. Especially since I experienced it inside our own house and in my school.

2. Do you think that more education about Bipolar condition could help people in understanding and for that it could help to lessen the stigma? How could it be better done?

I think educating people regarding Bipolar Disorder is the most important step when it comes to lessening the stigma. For I believe that the main reason why there is a stigma surrounding Bipolar DIsorder is because of the lack of knowledge about it and people with this condition aren't dangerous or just being a 'drama queen'

3. What is a recurring mistake people do when they approach you?

Is this when they first approach me? Or when they approach me about my Bipolar ?

4. How do you face a situation in which people do/did stigmatize you?

When I get stigmatized, of course I feel hurt, first and for all. But I usually try to explain to them what Bipolar Disorder is and if they still don't understand, I usually just ignore them because we can't really do much to change a person's opinion.

5. Do you have any insight about how to eliminate, or reduce, Bipolar disorder stigma?

I think educating people about it would really help, and showing them that we are still "normal" people and we deserve to be treated as equals.

@BeyondTheInvisible

1. I've been called physically disabled by teachers and managers over the years when I've had to wear a brace for wrist or knee pain, when it noticeably affected my range of motion (like trying to weld something that was purposely put at waist high for the class). My family however has commented negatively a few times when I've had days either high or low energy... "Is you having a bad day, or it that the bipolar" "Are you speaking fast to piss me off or is that the bipolar", or when I'm fairly stable "Are you just faking it for attention?, it's all in your head" (why yes, yes it is all my brain's fault)... For both conditions, you really want to reach out and deliver a solid backhand and some education. Surprise surprise, only the physical issues recieve any offer of help or accomodations.

2. As is normal for the human condition, people only understand what they have direct exposure to. My dad's side of the family experiences depression... my mom's side of the family experiences bipolar (though none of them will outright admit it). Despite the fact that we're fairly sure my mother has bipolar, she refuses to admit it and get help... and she's the first one to treat me like I'm blaming my issues on the disease. You can only educate people that want to understand.

3. I've always had people approach me either with hatred or caution. The only thing that changed in the last couple years has been that the people that are aware that I have bipolar approach me as if walking on glass, not realizing that even though a lot of them have known me for years and nothing has changed beyond being able to put a name to things and actually work on treating it.

4. It's easy when folks stigmatize me for physical issues, because I'm bull-headed enough to adjust my methods to compensate for restrictions. I'm just an asshole when folks ask me to speak slower or clearer... I give them perfectly clear and clipped english, but switch my choice of vocabulary up a few notches... I get the same confused look and reaction as I do from speaking quickly.

5. The only way I've managed to reduce stigma and be treated like anyone else, has been to try and educate people as best I can. MOST of my friends and coworkers have no idea that I deal with bipolar.

5. Do you have any insight about how to eliminate, or reduce, Bipolar disorder stigma?

1. Have you ever experienced to be labeled for your condition? How was it?

It honestly feels like now it's just an excuse not to treat me. I am labelled "bipolar" therefor I can't possibly have pain or any other medical issues. /s

2. Do you think that more education about Bipolar condition could help people in understanding and for that it could help to lessen the stigma? How could it be better done?

I think so. As it is, people think we flip on a dime, when in reality it's a long multi-day drawn out process.

3. What is a recurring mistake people do when they approach you?

They assume my emotions are invalid. I'm not "allowed" to experience genuine sadness, or anxiety, or anything else, because it's always invalidated by my diagnosis...

4. How do you face a situation in which people do/did stigmatize you?

My bio family is all hush hush. I'm not allowed to mention bipolar because they don't want other people to hear and judge them. Doctors.... I have had all kinds of things blamed on my bipolar, like pain in specific areas. They say that bipolar increases the pain we feel, but if that's the case, there has to be at least some degree of real pain for bipolar to increase the feeling! So I feel like it just makes me a second class citizen.

5. Do you have any insight about how to eliminate, or reduce, Bipolar disorder stigma?

No, not really.... I just wish people would treat me properly....

1Yes sometimes it is an embarrassing feeling and I feel misunderstood

Thanks for sharing with with us.

I really enjoyed reading this.