Bipolar is a Cuss Word on Twitter
Sometimes I despair that the public will forever continue to stigmatize Bipolar Disorder. When I read tweets about how 'bipolar' the weather is or 'my mother is so bipolar, I swear' it worries me that there will never be an end to the stigma that surrounds us.
And then I remember what I'm here to do. I'm here to dispel those myths that we are just crazy and we have nothing to offer the world. Woodroll Call, in the Guest Post: War of Anger, reminded me that knowledge is power. And power is being able to stand up and say, "This is what it's like to be me. Accept it or not!"
So, I beg the question, what are you doing to destigmatize Bipolar Disorder? Are you talking about it with your family and friends? Have you joined your local chapters of NAMI or DBSA? What can you do to make your story be heard?
Twitter is a useful tool for getting your voice heard, too. Perhaps if enough of us raise our voices then we will make a difference in the way that the word 'Bipolar' is used. I look forward to seeing you make a difference!
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© 2009 Cristina Fender
What??? seriously. So sad. I am sorry. So, my son told me he thinks he is bipolar...he is 14, don't even know where he heard the word. I think kids are using it as slang. It makes me angry. He is just being 14...moody...not bipolar. Not that I would not take the best care of him...but I think that I would know...wouldn't I???
Well, hugs, mile191
^ poster above.. My 10 year old came home from school last year asking me what bipolar was. She said that the kids in her class use it..
It's used all the time now days to define stupid things. Yet when someone finds out i'm bipolar you can see then cringe.. Like they think they should take off running.. ugh..
Mile 191:
That's just sad. This world needs to be better educated what it means to be bipolar. Maybe if they understood then it wouldn't be used as a slang or cuss word. I'm sorry about your son. I'm sure you had a talk with him about stigma and what it means to say such things. I'm sorry you even had to talk to him about it!
Mile 191:
You are informed. I think you would know if your kid was bipolar. Have you done any research on it? It's best to be informed--just in case. Unfortunately, there's a higher rate of him being bipolar because you are.
Aimee,
I wish people wouldn't cringe when they hear you're bipolar. It's not like you can change what you are. Hopefully more people will become informed on the subject and won't label us as crazy, insane people who are to be feared.
I once hung a "poster" in my office detailing the upcoming "NAMIWalks" fundraiser and how people could sponsor or walk in the event. A peer of mine, who thinks highly of himself and therefore me as well, noticed the poster. He jokingly asked me, “Who is this for? You?” and chuckled. Straight-faced, I answered with a simple “Yes”. [Note: I am not ‘out’ at work]. He stared at me briefly, laughed aloud, called me a “funny guy”, and moved on. To this day, I am still not exactly sure how to interpret the exchange. Was a part of me happy that he could not connect the person he knows as “me” with the concept of someone being mentally ill? Should I have been offended? Why the hell did I even answer yes? I am sure I missed a destigmatizing opportunity. He was later let go and I have since been promoted. While childish, chalk one up for us crazies in the workplace.