The Stigma... (possible triggers)
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| Wed, 08-24-2005 - 3:27pm |
Just need to vent this!
I was at a meeting today where the guest speaker was presenting information about parenting classes in our county.
A question came up as to where most of the clients are referred from. The answer is that most of them are ordered to the class through DSS for child abuse or neglect type situations.
One of the people at the meeting piped up that most of the abuse and neglect stems from things such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse and manic depression. What the heck???
Ok, maybe I am too sensitive, but just being bipolar does NOT mean that you are automatically going to be an abusive or neglectful parent and I was kind of steamed the way he just threw that out as an explanation... For anyone who was there at that meeting that does not have a lot of knowledge about BP, they now think that we are all child abusers... !
I don't hide the fact that I am bipolar... I think if being open about it makes people curious enough to ask questions, then I've helped educate them in some small way... My father died because he was too ashamed of the stigma of BP to accept any medical help for it and I would someday like to see that stigma completely gone. But it is certainly an uphill battle.
Ok...stepping off my soapbox now...
Catherine

Catherine, thanks for venting! Even though I have a disease called Bipolar Disorder, I know that I'm not an abusive person, just a person that has a chemical imbalance. I have other mental problems, such at ptsd, but I don't let someone else's lack of knowlede or fear stop me from going to that person and giving him some information about BPD.
I know I'm not a child abuser,Even though I don't have children, I love children, but I wouldn't want to expose them to my disorder, and that is my choice. There are women, (of course, we all know this), in this community that do have children, and they are adjusted and ok. But for me, no. In my opinion, drug abuse, alcohol abuse are diseases just like diabetes or any other type of disease that needs treatment, with either a rehab, hospital or 12 step meetings. And, of course, coming here to vent.
Abuse, like any other habit can be changed. Abuse is like a circle, but like all circles it can be broken with therapy and understanding. I can understand about your dad having BPD, my dad had it too, and he suffered needlessly. But he died because of other circumstances.
I've learned not to own something that I didn't buy. I'm sensitive about being bipolar, but I've learned and am still learning to develop some thick skin. No everyone's going to be sympathetic. In short, it comes with the territory of having a mental disorder. People that don't have the disease just doesn't understand, and until they do, those of us that do have the disorder, are going to have to learn how to be patient and tolerant. But I do have my days when I just get tired of myself and other things, and I just learn how to love me, even if noone else loves me, or understands me.
Thanks!
Hugs,
Sebastian
http://www.facebook.com/sebastianbruce
This totally triggers me...but don't you feel badly Catherine!!! Its the stigma that we have to FIGHT! Here at my job for example, I hvae been very open about my illness, and OMG, you would've thought I'd committed murder or something. But, fast forward 2 years, and I have to sit in meetings listening to them LAUGH THEIR YOU KNOW WHATS off at this "lady who had a mental breakdown" one week...the next week, they were laughing again about this same lady, but in another context. These are our SENIOR MANAGERS laughing about mental illness for godssake.
I've been through the whole Child Protective Services thing because of MI and using drugs. Its not fun, and I wasn't even an addict. The lady told me herself that the biggest stigma in mental illess these days beyond Shizophrenia is Bipolar Disorder. That there is a supposition that all BPers are drug abusers. Not fair.
UGH.