Saturday, November 22, 2008

Question of the weekend

I want to hear you honest opinions....

When you hear the word bipolar what do you think?
If a friend told you they were bipolar what would your honest opinion be?
I'm not interested in the fake, "oh really??, I would have never guess..." I want to know what goes through the uncensored part of your mind!

Here is my 100% honest answer...

As I have said on here before I struggle with being judgmental. I guess even mental health issues aren't safe around me. In my adult life the first time I heard bipolar my very first thought was "crazy". My 2nd to 10th thoughts were also "crazy". In all honesty I even went as far as to compare it to schizophrenia, and multiple personality disorder. Now, I never said any of these things out loud but they were in my head. Until I had completely researched bipolar disorder I had these thought. I'll admit I was so disappointed in myself when I learned what it was and how many people are silently suffering from this disorder. Have I just grown up a little more sheltered that the rest of the world or do other people feel the same way? Please be honest in your answers, my blog accepts anonymous comments so feel free. This is really important to me and your honest thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks :)

PS. Who stopped following my blog!!!! I'm so sorry! I've been a bad bad blogger but I promise to try harder if you'll just come back! I can't stand odd numbers and you have dirtied my blog with a 19! OK...if you come back I'll have a contest...k...you'll get 2 ballots just for coming back! The prize will be phenomenal!! Hey?...Do you prefer painted canvas or crayoned?




LOVE XOX

12 comments:

S Club Mama said...

Honestly, no one would shock me if they came out that they were bipolar. Two of my best friends in high school were bipolar. Their parents didn't know, but when you got close enough it was fairly obvious. Maybe I just knew what to look for.

It's hard to see from the outside. It is. But my friends were reckless in completely different ways (and some similarly). They both struggled with suicide and the girl had an eating disorder.

It's hard because you want to help but sometimes only they can help themselves. It's the same now, I have a friend dealing with major depression. It scares me. And I can try to encourage as much as I want, but unless she chooses to accept my friendship, my help, my love, I can't do a thing.

The best thing to do for people who are bipolar and/or depressed is pray for them. God works miracles and He's the greatest love for anyone.

Cassandra said...

Honestly Jen, the only thing i know about Bipolar is what i've seen portrayed on TV,So not a lot.
If a freind told me they were Bipolar i'd want to do a bit of research and find out exactly what they were going through and what to expect and maybe how to help, I dont think 'crazy' but then my Grandma suffers from some form of schizophrenia (its NOT discussed ) but i love her dearly none the less ( and she is fine whilst on her meds).So i do know how hard it can be for family and even friends, It can be especially hard when people think its something that should be hidden and never discussed, instead of being supportive like families and true frinds should be :-)

Cindy @ Marriedtothemilitary {dot} net said...

I would hope that this person would seek out the help that they needed so that life could return to normal. Without the right help/support from Drs/family/friends, NOTHING is easy to overcome. It is possible, but is MUCH harder without support :-)

fawndear said...

'CRAZY' yep. my 12 year old was just diagnosed Bi-Polar on top of a lot of other things. Manic, Depressed, defiant also go into my definition. But I also have to hang onto Hope. Hope that everything will work out o.k. for everyone that has it.

I have relatives who are Bi-polar too. They have a really hard time in social situations but I still love them all because I know they are not honestly really trying to suck the life out of those around them. It's really hard and I'm just starting to research it. I know medication does help and new treatments are coming out all the time. So I hang onto hope with a deathgrip.

Let me know what you find out.

Montay said...

I found your blog thru Amber.. Feel free to stop by mine. Bi Polar well fisrt thing would be I know a few people who say they are. ANd then I feel badly that they are because life is hard enough as it is. I hope they will be Ok and that they can become well again and that others treat them fairly. I too have HOPE and I put it in the hands of God he is all knowing and can see the bigger picture. Mostly I am just Sad for them. I would say Each day is a new one fresh with no mistakes and we can try better tommorrow. Keep your head up and pray often for peace in your heart..



On a lighter note LOVE the pictures of the kids Did you take them? What cutie pies!!

Montay said...

Oops I mean I found you from utmom of 5

Christy said...

I don't think it would really suprise me if a friend told me they were bipolar. I think that I would be encouraged to do some digging and learn more about it. I just think it's a matter of a person having extreme mood swings caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain......

Jill Petersen said...

I am on the borderline of bipolar and have struggled so much with depression for 4 and a half years now. Before I knew what it was it kind of scared me and the thought crazy came into my head. Let me tell you, with out my meds I would be!

Shawna said...

It would probably explain some erratic behaviour. But I wouldn't think much further than that.

Now a days we have titles for each and every mental health/physical issue. Everything has a label.

Back in the day if you were a little off people just called you crazy.

Neither is really good however I feel that we get into the trend of labeling a mental/physical issue instead of just assisting where needed.

We need to know that everyone has issues, whether they are uncontrollable or controllable with medication, we each have our own things that we struggle with or have struggled to overcome.

So after all is said and done I would think nothing of meeting/working/befriending a bipolar person, you just need to know how to temper your relationship with that person.

Diana said...

Hello Jennifer...

I am the one who stopped following your blog. Tho I HAVEN'T stopped following it obviously...I just hated the feeling of being a stalker.

I still enjoy reading your blog. I have just recently starting blogging again. We have decided that next year we'll start TTC #2. Then I started thinking about my grandma and how she managed to raise 10 kids of her own (with a set of twins included). So I have been addicted these past two weeks to blogs that deal with large families. I find it very interesting and I look up to each of you.

Have a wonderful day! Your stalker -LOL-,
Diana from Florida (wink)

Anonymous said...

Bipolar Disorder is very real in my life - my mother has it, never took meds her whole life - well sometimes but they mostly made her sleep for weeks on end. My childhood was COMPLETE CHAOS - she is NUTS - and sucks the life out of everything she come in contact with. She in in her 60's and to this day refuses to take meds. My brother also is Bi-polar - and refuses to take meds either. Maybe once a year for a couple of months he will - AND IT IS heaven, but other than that, his life is CHAOS and DISASTER and it is sooooooooooo hard to sit and watch - b/c there is nothing I can do or say to help. He stresses me out beyond words.....

Anonymous said...

Hey, it's Theresa's friend Deb. I read your blog often and I looove it.

To answer your question, the first thing I think of when I hear the word bipolar is mental illness, as in ill, as in needing treatment like any other illness. These kinds of illnesses have such a stigma attached to them, but really they are a result of brain chemistry which is something that we can't really control.