From Outcast To Insider: Overcoming The Stigma of Bipolar Disorder

From Outcast To Insider: Overcoming The Stigma of Bipolar Disorder
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anne_Arthur]Anne Arthur

Bipolar Disorder and Society:

The stigma often associated with manic depression and other mental disorders is very real. Many people with bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses are afraid to share their condition with other people for fear of ridicule or judgment.

A World Federation for Mental Health study recently revealed that more than 71% of patients with bipolar disorder felt they could not reveal their illness to others without being judged.

The stigma is so real in fact many will avoid telling friends or family of their mental condition. Many people with bipolar disorder face stigma and discomfort from well-meaning friends and family members that don’t really understand bipolar disorder.

Many patients are more than happy to share their “up” phases to the outside world but tend to keep their depression to themselves.

While people may enjoy being around an upbeat hypomanic personality, they may find a depressive bipolar less companionable.

This makes common interactions and social events uncomfortable at best, and undesirable at worst for many bipolar patients.

It is common for patients with bipolar disorder to feel misunderstood. Unfortunately even many health care providers carry with them a biased attitude toward bipolar patients. Many have a difficult time focusing on the real reason a person is in their office. Instead they focus on the mental health issue.

Some patients feel cut off by their doctors or disregarded before they have an opportunity to get at the core of their problem. Manic patients may leave their doctor’s office without their dignity and respect.

Respect and Dignity For Mental Health Patients:

What is important for patients and the public at large to realize is that bipolar patients are people too, people that deserve compassion, kindness and understanding.

Far too often even well-meaning doctors fall into the trap of generalizing the public’s health or mental condition.

What is true is that all manic depressive patients are different. Not all patients are the same and what works for one may not necessarily work for another.

What the public should also realize is that according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, roughly one in five people suffers from some form of mental illness or another.

That means as a patient, you are more part of family than an outcast.

Most patients with bipolar disorder or some other form of depression are in fact, more commonly the norm rather than the exception to the rule.

Understanding this can help promote greater compassion and acceptance of manic depression and bipolar disorder.

Steps for Overcoming Fear of Bipolar Disorder:

If you or a loved one suffers from bipolar disorder or any other mental illness, there is hope. There are several strategies you can adopt to help promote your health and well being.

There are even more steps you can take to help you feel comfortable and accepted by society at large.

Here are some small steps patients and family members can take to help overcome the stigma associated with mental illness.

- Always accept your condition for what it is.

- Never attempt to hide your condition for fear that others will be un-accepting or misunderstand you.

- Educate friends and family. Direct them to a number of sites that help explain bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Great reference sites include the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

- Confidently explain that one if five people suffers from some form of mental illness or another.

- Remember that you are more an insider than you realize.

- One out of every five of your friends, acquaintances or associates likely suffers from some form of mental illness. -Use support groups to help bolster your self confidence and promote your inner peace and well being.

- Remember to always hold your head high with dignity and respect. Never accept less than the utmost respect when consulting with friends, family or your doctor.

A good friend is often a key support figure for patients suffering from bipolar disorder.

There are various online and offline support groups for patients with bipolar disorder and manic depression. Be sure you check some out to find the support you need when treating this complex and emotional disease.

Remember, there is hope. Bipolar patients are more a member of a large family than anything else.

Copyright 2006 Anne Arthur

Anne Arthur is a freelance writer based in Denver, CO.
Her experience includes 10+ years working with natural and traditional medical providers. Find out more about treating bipolar disorder successfully without using prescription drugs by visiting http://www.bipolarwithoutmeds.com/ .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Arthur http://EzineArticles.com/?From-Outcast-To-Insider:-Overcoming-The-Stigma-of-Bipolar-Disorder&id=135576

Related News:

Being Bipolar disorder will disqualify you to become a surrogate mother because you are deemed as physiologically unhealthy.

The Online Bipolar Test - What's It All About?
An online bipolar test should not be used as your sole means of diagnosis! You will be doing yourself or your loved ones a great disservice if you try to self-diagnose. Only a trained and qualified medical professional has the ability to evaluate you for any type of mental illness.

Bipolar Type 2 And Type 1 - What Is The Difference?
Both bipolar disorder categories share the same characteristics in mood swing levels. However, the drawing line between the bipolar type 1 and the bipolar type 2 is on the varied episode levels of each mood swing.

Related Articles:

Why Do You Stay in Your Bipolar Relationship?
Bipolar disorder runs roughshod over relationships. The divorce rate is three times higher in these marriages than in the general population. The pressure on us from friends, family and professionals is unrelenting. Those who ask, "Why do you stay in your relationship?" are not supportive.

From Outcast To Insider: Overcoming The Stigma of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complicated mental illness that often brings with it much social stigma and discomfort. Patients with bipolar disorder face many challenges when addressing society at large. Fortunately for patients with manic depression, there are many steps you can take to overcome social stigma. Roughly one in five people suffers from a mental illness. That means you are part of a large family of patients and friends.

Bipolar Disorders in Children
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, was once believed to affect adults only. But researchers have found that children as young as seven years old can have this disorder. Bipolar disorder is a treatable neurobiological brain illness, characterized by severe fluctuations in mood and activity levels.

Information for Spouses of Husbands and Wives with Bipolar Disorder
There is no blueprint for success when you're looking for information about how to support a husband or wife with bipolar disorder. I wish I could give you a checklist of things to do to guarantee whatever success you're seeking. I wish I could promise you a happy ending. But bipolar disorder manic depression doesn't work that way.

Parenting A Bipolar Child - Help Your Child Lead A Rewarding Life
Parenting a child with bipolar disorder presents its own unique challenges. Family and friends may have attributed your child's difficult behavior to stubbornness or other personality flaws. They may disagree with your parenting skills, however it is important to recognize and accept bipolar disorder for what it is – just another medical condition.

Sufferers of Bipolar Disorder - Good Parent, Bad Parent
Although no child should have to experience some of the problems that come with having a bipolar disorder parent, no upbringing is perfect, and like most bad experiences in life, good lessons can be learnt from them. Most children of parents with bipolar disorder learn a great deal about mental illness during their parents depressive and manic episodes, and grow into extremely understanding adults. The unique positive traits that come with bipolar disorder can create a very open and loving relationship between the child and the parent with bipolar disorder that is full of deep emotion and understanding. Its up to you to decide whether the pros make up for the cons for children of parents with bipolar disorder.

Your Spouse Is Bipolar - Now What?
Your spouse has just been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, so what's next for both of you? Here's a short check list of do's and don'ts to put things into perspective, to let you see that you do not have to face this alone and that there is hope.

Identify Bipolar Disorder Triggers
is of huge advantage for disorder patient to identify the triggers of your mood swing in order to control your bipolar symptoms. You can do this by having your very own personal mood chart. all you need to do is record all your emotions and the corresponding events that took place. After sometime, you will be able to notice that there are certain patterns of your mood swings.

Bipolar Disorder Advancements
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness requiring prolonged treatment. People with this disorder experience extreme emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression.) Numerous advancements in bipolar disorder treatments have been made over the past few decades.

Ways To Cope With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, has a very serious effect on the sufferer's life. It also effects those closest to the patients in a detrimental way and getting treatment as soon as possible is paramount. Sufferers need the attention of physicians, psychiatrists…

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that effects over 2 millions American adults every single year. Because it is a recurrent illness it can be very difficult to treat; patients may think they are feeling better and stop the treatment but this will only see the problems recurring. It…

Learn More About Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bipolar affective disease is a recurring illness that means if left untreated it can continue indefinitely. It is very important that a patient who suffers from bipolar affective disorder is treated for the disease not only when it is diagnosed but also through the course of their lives.…

Trouble In Mood City - the Bipolar Brain
This article actually is an appeal to a Medicare Part D provider who thought I should have to pay double the co-payment on a medication I had been taking for years because of it's high expense. (It's somewhere around $555.00 for a month's supply.) But I knew trying other medications would be at best an exercise in futility.