What is [insert diagnosis here] like for you? No dictionary definitions please

I'll go first.

Bipolar is the best/worst/most intense/confronting/chaotic/met the best people time in my life.

Although it's tough I wouldn't change any of it. It's made me who I am and I like me.

@PeppiPatty I nominate you to go next.

Why do you say no books? Some of the best things I have learned about my Bipolar disorder were found on some books. Probably not text books, and not all books, but some books.

I remember that the best book I ever read, that gave me great insight into my condition, was a booklet created by other sufferers on some of the basic and universal aspects of bipolar. Amixture of their experiences guided by research findings.

Mind you, though, and this you can also find on books, that mental illness (I prefer to call it mental disorder) is never one. There is also a number of disorders such as anxiety, OCD, Bipolar or Depression and so on, that work together. Hence why it is so difficult to talk about one illness (oor disorder) and why it is also difficult to find right medications.

Without books we are in the dark. We are voiceless and cannot communicate how we feel to those in power who make decisions for us.

And if you are suggesting "the lived experience", even this needs to be guided by some sort of coherent expression, mostly found on books.

The trick is to find the right books 🙂

For example, while I agree with you that it is wonderful to accept one's bipolar, and I really think that you are great for saying this, and to come to be happy with it, living with it, we must be able to educate people about our condition so as to break the vicious cycle of stigma and prejudice.

If I read what you wrote, and this is my opinion, or just say a normal person has a look at this page and reads what you wrote, and I say it with respect to you and your ideas, I find that I understand little about the condition. This does little or nothing to fight the stigma.

For example you wrote: "Bipolar is the best/worst/most intense/confronting/chaotic/met the best people time in my life." This is very unspecific and says little. But if you were to find some writing on some books that backs what you are saying, than you could write half a page that really sheads some light on what you are trying to say. In this way it could be anything,

What do you honestly think? Just being honest here with my OWN opinion. You need not agree and you can tell me off I can take it. I like a challenge

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theaveragejoe wrote:

And if you are suggesting the lived experience even this needs to be guided by some sort of coherent expression mostly found on books.

The trick is to find the right books 🙂

Hey @theaveragejoe that's an awesome point and I totally agree. My own views on my experiences are definitely grounded in books, mostly psychology these days though.

I guess what I think would be cool is to hear what people think of their illness/experiences in their own words without quoting the DSM. Everyone's experience is very different even if they share the same illness.

Does that make sense? I like your point.

Hi MrKotter,

thank you for not being offended, you know I never mean any harm and the reason why I cahllenge people is because I challenge myself first. Yes, I do agree with you, it is important to listen to what sufferers think of their problem without academic jargon. So? Yes I agree with you.

As you can understand, I am in a dilemma. I know many sufferers that fail to read some good books so that they can empower themselves, this is what I really meant.

But yes, I agree with you in a way. Thank you for your understanding, I wish more people were like you 🙂

BIpolar Disorder for me is an evolutionary and complex set of intelligences. Evolutionary because it pushes people to develop. Yes I know it can be a terrible affliction for those who, for whatever valid reason, are uinable to control it (be it medication or therapy or both). Mind you that some bipolar disorders are bery severe.

I can say this looking at the many great minds that suffer, or have suffered, with bipolar disorder.

See if someone can look up how many great historical people, and contemporary people still alive, suffer with Bipolar Disorder...

Michelangelo, Beethoven, Van gogh, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Fry, Winston Churcill, and many many more. These are not just great people but they have changed our lives in a powerful way. Look at the history and you will find revolutionary ideas and change often comes from these people.

That is how I come to this understanding.

And to think that science today is looking for a gene that causes bipolar so that they can eliminate the "Bipolar Gene". I hope that does not happen, because humanity will be in the dark for many centuries to come.

Hi @mrkotter

Great post!!

I have Borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression, anxiety and PTSD (childhood abuse). I see my mental illness as frustrating, overwhelming and sad. To me I feel like a wave - sometimes calm and serene and at times huge and intense (my intense emotions). The waves can be smurky (all messed and mixed up thoughts) and so clear and blue (thoughts are rational).

I did read a book about BPD a while ago and re-read it again not long again (Get me out of here) about a lady diagnosed with BPD and how she recovered. I remember reading the book and thinking OMG this is me; this is what I do; this is how I treat my therapist; this is what I say. I could see myself in this book. It helped me understand.

Depression & Anxiety - Dark deep hole can't get out of. Each time I try to get back up I fall down again. It's a constant fight to reach the top. Fear, sadness, moody, angry, frustrated and so so emotional is how I see my depression.

Childhood abuse - very very sad for me. Anger at the abusers. Hate towards my parents especially my mum. I guess I see myself as a marathon runner wanting to run so fast somewhere, anywhere. And sometimes I see myself chopping wood with a huge axe. But as I do that I see the people who have hurt me so so much.

[Insert diagnosis here] makes absolutely no difference to me. I don't take the medication and I'm not on disability and I don't disclose it to my friends, family or any prospective employers. I did make the decision to talk to a psychologist about my problems, join some self help groups and read a lot of books (and contribute to this forum) so I suppose I'm just much more comfortable dealing with bits and pieces of my distorted self rather than confronting a big whole gestalt entity of a diagnosis.

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@BlueBells wrote:
Soooo ( I don't know bipolar) is it, as the name suggests, bi as in two, polar as in ends...it is swinging from high to low, up to down, introvert to extrovert, happy to sad, lethargic to energised.....

I am getting that impression, but I don't know.

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I like the old name for bipolar - manic depressive disorder. I think it's easier to explain it to people, you know, at first you're one then the other.

I actually think the general population views manic depression in teh same vein as depression and anxiety and doesn't actually associate it with other mental illnesses that include psychosis like schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia and therefore doesn't attach the same stigma to it. That's the impression I get anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong here.