Ok, so I am so worried about what others will think of me when they find out I have mental health issues. I know that people closest to me will still love me just the same but I worry what others will think. I like to think that I am not one of those that look badly at people with mental health issues, but deep down it’s not true. Mental health is scary. If I found out that my next door neighbour was under a psychiatrist, I would be very wary of them. I don’t want people to think that of me. I’m not a danger, I’m not a complete mental case. How can I end the stigma if I feel it myself?
There’s also the manic depression element. Knowing that I am susceptible to depression, I know that I avoid people with depression. That sounds awful but it is true. I know that spending time with people that are so down will bring me down so I avoid it. I don’t want people to avoid me cause they think I might bring them down. I’m not that down most of the time.
I suppose I will have to accept that I might be avoided or judged and I have to change the way I think.
Apparently I'm Bipolar 
I just wanted to tell you to start to celebrate yourself and how strong you are. You are a bipolar survivor! You have an illness or a disease that happens to be in your brain. So what. That is just where your illness is. It is ok. You are in great company. Many wonderful, brilliant creative people have bipolar and many more people that you do not know most likely have it. Okay it is not a nice illness to have. It is very painful, but it is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Please remember that. You are a great and strong person and there is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not a character flaw. It is just an illness. It is not who you are. You just have an illness. Stigma is why you are afraid to have it. It is an illness just like diabetes is an illness. You are a strong bipolar survivor. You are a survivor. Hugs and blessings always. ❤
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Aw how lovely – thank you so so much xx
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You are welcome. The hardest part is accepting it. I understand that. I went through that years ago when I was first diagnosed. That part gets easier eventually. Hugs.
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Thank you. I think I’m just scared at the present time. Do you now lead a normal life with meds? If you don’t mind me asking? X
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I would call it normal. The only difference is that I used to teach special education and I can no longe teach anymore
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Oops I am on my phone and it sent before I was done. I can’t teach anymore and am on social security disability. I was very very sick for a long time but that was because I wouldn’t accept it plus I was medicine resistant and very sensitive to almost all medications and had adverse reactions to them etc. ECTs saved my life. I now work at Kohl’s pt and I love it. I was married but now divorced because he couldn’t deal with my bipolar but I have been blessed with the three most amazing children. I have severe bipolar 1 disorder with mixed episodes and rapid cycling . Makes it harder to treat. It is a difficult illness but there are great parts about it too. The downs really suck but the ups are awesome!!!
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It took a long time for me to undo the fear of my illness in me. I was diagnosed in 2013, but had suffered for a long time hiding it away. It was my acceptance and my openness about it with other people that eradicated that fear, and now I walk safety in this world happy with who I have become. It sounds like with the blogging, you have already taken your first step there!
It may seem like you can’t break the stigma yourself right now, but trust in the power that your voice will echo throughout time…
M x
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Thank you so much. That’s really helpful xx
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I completely understand how you feel. Here I am on the internet writing to complete strangers about my struggles, but my own mother and my best friends don’t know I have bipolar.
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