Is my Bipolar Disorder a Mental Illness? Or is it a Disorder?

Thank you for your kind reply @Former-Member,

it is a pity that most people stay away from this controversial topic. Possibly because there is no right or wrong it is only a discussion. But discussions are also useful, even when they cannot lead to a conclusion.

My problem is not with the term Mental Illness per se. These are two words but words do have power on the reader.

My problem has to do with the fact that the words Mental Illness, put together, attract a lot of stigma.

An international study of more than 1,000 sufferersm in 35 countries had found that three quarters said they had been ostracised by other people leading them to avoid relationships, applying for jobs and contacting friends. Discrimination is leading many to put off seeking treatment with a subsequent worsening of their condition.

In another study it was found that the continued use of the words Mental Illness means that more people are not disclosing their mental condition. It is OK to disclose it here under a pseudo name. Most people will not do it in real life, with their real name, because the words Mental Illness lead to rejection from people, from most employers and carry the heavy burden of stigma. The words Mental Illness contribute to stigma in the open society.

I have doneperonal research on this, personal research at three universities. Most students said that the words Mental Illness was a worry for them and that it would change their perspective on fellow students and friends. Many non University people, as contrast to student population, were also afraid of anyone with a Menatl Illness. This is how strong Stigam is.

In the face of this sad evidence, don't we think that it would be best to do something? Maybe different wordings can make a bit of a difference? Especially employers, and I did a small scale research on this as well a while ago, do not like the word Illness and especially the words Mental Illness. I remember asking them not telling them that is have Bipolar Disorder. If they only knew I thought to myself 🙂 That is why people do not disclose it. If the word illness appears on any form, in any shape, they will not want to hire the person.

Non disclosure is an extra barrier because it means that many people do not seek treatment which is not good for pharmaceutical companies either. You see, Suzanne, I am not against medication, I am against overuse of medication and especially medication without other treatment. Medication can save lives if used appropriately, but it can also take lives away if used inappropriately.

Is this not enough to want us to do something about it? After all, SANE is all for fighting stigma. This is my real concern, Suzanne, and I wish that more people wrote here to discuss this.

Mental Illness are two terrible words in the open society. They may seem harmless and accurate here, in this virtual reality community, but in the open and real society, they are explosive and powerful, and lead to full rejection in many areas of society. And what good are two words that you have to hide in the open society? Two words that are disliked so much? Not much good.

Yes the intention was good, that if people were said to have a mental illness, then this would reduce the stigma since we cannot help our symptoms and moods all of the time. But it has not worked in real life, it has backfired, in real terms. People with "Mental Illness" remain the most mistreated, most misunderstood, the most mistrusted, and most stigmatised group of society. We are the most disadvantaged group in society. Many of us have to hide and the words "Mental Illness" hve a lot to do with this increased stigma.

Do we really want to carry on with Menatl Illness. At what cost? I think that the words Mental Illness have a lot to do with this grave problem of stigma. It is difficult for mental health professional to understand, since there is less stigma in the medical profession particularly psychology and psychiatry, a world of its own.

This is what I mean, Suzanne, and I hope that you, as a good psychologist that you are, can stop and contemplate on this. It is not really helping us to use Mental Illness, even if some people think that it is. It is not! Nnot out here where I live. Not anywhere on the planet. Even though I have a mental disorder, I am a pretty clever fellow you know?

Moreover, here on this site, we are using that part of our mind called consciousness; there is no physical body here, only thoughts and words travelling in the quantum world. This is an aspect of the mind that does not have a body, hence why it is also difficult to speak of Illness when Consciousness is involved. We do not yet know if consciousness raises from the brain. Some studies indicate that consciousness can continue to live outside of the brain, as you probably know from scientific research, research that is largely discredited. Consciousness is an abstract elelemnt of human beings that we cannot yet explain, let alone describe as "Ill"

Lastly, the word illness was in the past associated with a virus or bacteria. Later it wan broadened to include bodily disfunctions. But a virus and bacteria often comes to mind when we speak of illness and it is a word full of negative connotation. An illness is not necessarily a good thing for many people.

Hi @Silenus,

your words ramblings have helped a lot. I too stay away from labels and illnesses. I do tell people that I suffer with a mental disorder but that is only when I speak about my lived experience in Universities or other places, as a volunteer of course. I love to help fellow sufferers and to tell the world that I am not ill, I am not a label, I am a person who has suffered trauma in the past and now I am able to help myself, mostly by being in touch with the non religious Spirituality that you speak of. By the way, this must be recent because you were not spiritual in the past, at least not as such. But it gives me great happiness to hear that you have found the Spirituality, that force of the Universe that many can feel but not see, that energy that makes it possible for some of us to watch over ourselves, as in the Mind watching the Mind. Perhaps pure consciousness.

Yes, it is good to stay away from labels and illness, once we have found our course of action, be it with therapy, medication or both. I was never against, and I am not against, medication, SIlenus. I am not against people that take medication, I think that if it helps them that is good. But as you know, there is the other side to the reality of medication and that is overmedication, wrongly medicating people, and the attempt in the past of pharmaceutical corporation to sell drugs at all costs. That is wrong and fortunately it is slowly changing.

Your words are helpful, as usual, I think that you have a way with words.

Today I want to think of myself as a survivor, a normal person who had a problem, and while the problem is still there, I can control it well enough to live normally and peacefully. Whatever normal may mean 🙂 I am not an illness nor a label I am a person and a good person, a valuable citizen. I do not want to be associated with a word like Illness. I am not ill. I have a disorder on which I work on everyday and I can live well though it is hard work 🙂

Yes there are those that have a chronic condition and because of this they are not happy with their life. I can understand this, my condition may not be as severe as theirs, and I respect their opposition to what I wrote here; but my particular mental disorder is different from theirs and requires different approach. Perhaps I am speaking only for those like me that can cope, that can help themselves, that can find some happiness in all of the misery.

I think the stigma would remain even if you changed it from "illness" to "disorder".

Because, it signifies a difference between you and the majority.

And people fear that which is different and difficult for them to understand.

Even if it was a disorder instead of illness, you'd still be considered different from everyone else and the conditions of this difference is hard for most people to understand and accept.

I don't like the notion of illness either, with its connotations that I am imperfect, poor in quality or misfortunate. I think disorder would be more appropriate.

Hi @Tyler77,

terrific way of putting it, I agree to a certain extent. I am not saying that things would change immediately, stigma would remain, but would it be less? To be gay, as in homosexual or lesbian was considered a mental illness and defined as such by the older DSM. Things changed in the 70s.

Perhaps finding a less damaging name than "illness" could improve things.

I know some indigenous cultures where having psychosis or schizophrenia or bipolar was seen as a gift and therefore, having no stigma, people would not only cope well but many would become shamans.

In the Lapplands of FInland they have a special method of helping young people that experience first time psychosys. Rather than medicate them immediately they gather in a group of people that comprises doctors, nurses, family members and the patient to discuss the problems. Young people with first time psychosis often recover well enough to live reasonably normal lives. Have a look at the FInland Open Dialogue Method. The Laplands of Finland do not have a problem with psychosis anymore although, before introducing this method, they had one of the highest numbers of psychosis in the world.

Good thing is that they do not have stigma in that area of the world and that makes all of the difference.

yes @Cristeen,

if it was a temporary thing it would be OK but once labeled Mentally Ill that label tends to stay for life so that, in a way, there is no recoveryy within the ideology.

A mentally ill person seems to remain ill for life. And this is not a good thing.

Mentall illness is often a chronic condition. There are periods of remission, but for the most part, they have to manage their symptoms their entire lives. Delusions and psychosis are something I have had to learn to live with and try to manage with medication. If i don't, I become manic, delusional and potentially psychotic.

Its not so much a disorder or illness. I think it's a blessing, but one that comes at a cost. The cost being we're different and sometimes have a hard time functioning in regular society.

There have been numerous studies linking Bipolar and Schizo type illnesses to high IQ levels.

Childhood prodgidies for example are 4 or 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder when they get older.

Aristotle said "No great mind ever existed without a touch of madness"...

So be proud of who you are, and know even the ancients recognized the correlation between the truely gifted and those considered "ill".