Mental Health Awareness and Activism

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Comment by dymphna 1 day ago

i just watched a program on PBS called this emotional life.

click here to see

Comment by christopher bittner on January 2, 2010 at 2:09pm

Happy New Year. May you all be well. My sense of activism has changed over the years in that my focus and education is directed at the people in my life who know me and appreciate my talents as well as understand that I have an illness that is very debilitating at times. When I have tried to educate "The Whole World", I end up throwing my hands up in the air because most people, quite frankly, don't care. I would say that all the people in my life know that I am bi-polar, as well as all the people in my A.A. group because I talk about it, with out shame, if the need arises. I understand that there are concurrent symptoms as Chris has just said: I have A.D.D. as well as Alcoholism. I have slowly learned a hard lesson that I have often overwhelmed people with my desire to educate. This has put people off and has been counter-productive; I then feel misunderstood. I hope my experience is helpfull to any or all of you. Chris

Comment by chris hernandez on January 1, 2010 at 8:16pm

I think that there's so much to be learned and so much to teach people about this illness that it's good that people take time to explain to others what it really is...bipolar even do it has the same characteristics in most people some people experience other disorders with the bipolar for example you can be bipolar have ocd have anxiety have impulse control disorder, spsychotic ect...then it makes your bipolar even harder to deal with then sometimes all and more can just be the symptoms of bipolar itself...you can also have rapid cycling bipolar which means you go back and forth between mania and depression more often that other people...when people think of bipolar they think of somebody that its nuts and will eat your brain when you fall to sleep, there have been a lot of famous people through out history that are bipolar, one of my favorite things if any about this illness is how i can come up with all type of ideas to make money,build things ect...my mind is full of ideas..so we are not retarded we just got our own way, or how about when you get the feeling that you can do anything and nobody can stop you-now if you use that properlly it can be helpfull because you just won't give up when others do..there's is so much that people don't know and that's because most people and even most bipolar patient's are not educated on signs and symptoms of this illness...good luck,let me know if i can help on anything....

Comment by neuroelite on January 1, 2010 at 6:10pm

In my opinion, I would highlight the fact that this is an actual organic brain disease and not something that we have acquired through bad behavior and / or living a debauched lifestyle. It's not unlike Diabetes as a diabetic will experience extreme shifts in mood depending upon blood sugar levels and it requires medication such as insulin to balance it out. Kudos to you for being brave enough to speak out about this illness; smashing the stereotypes is an admirable course of action. A little education goes a long way as the old adage says. I wish you the best of luck and a Happy New Year. Be well and Stay strong. Cheers!

Comment by Amber Newland on January 1, 2010 at 6:01pm

Hi guys :) I just joined, and I've been thinking about the ignorance most people have regarding our disorder a lot recently. I wanted to write something for my high school's newspaper to try to enlighten my peers. I've been so tired of everyone throwing around the word "bipolar", calling each other that just because someone is being moody or lost their temper. I don't see it any differently than when people say something is "gay" or "retarded"; it's all offensive to me. I think that educating them might begin a slight change. Well, I just wanted y'all's input, maybe some tips on what you guys think I should highlight in the article. Thanks :)

Comment by Mozart on December 1, 2009 at 9:47pm

I am so excited about the breakthrough in mental health insurance coverage in the state of Ohio. After fighting many years, we finally have "Parity". My insurance will have to cover all of my mental health providers at the same 80/90% it pays all other physicians. Until now, my PDoc and counselors have only recieved 50% and had to 'eat' the rest. I have felt that this was so unfair. (I wish I could have paid my doctors the balance out of my own pocket.) If we had been allowed better mental health care, many of the other ailments we suffer would not exist. I am hopeful that more states, even the entire country will hold insurance companies liable to provide us with this basic need.

Comment by dymphna on November 9, 2009 at 6:07am

you got it. i have movie groups on other ning sites!

Comment by Geri on October 24, 2009 at 12:17pm

Hi Dymphna. Yes, comments about movies depicting bipolar (or other mental health issues) would be great to add on this group. Would you like to start a separate discussion on "Bipolar and The Media"? In our society, movies often create or enhance social change. While there are some movies that perpetuate the stigma of mental illness (especially the old ones, like "The Snake Pit", "Three Faces of Eve", "Sybil", or many of the horror flicks - "Psycho", "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", etc.), many offer a more humane & accurate portrait of what mental illness is & what it can "feel" like to the person & families who struggle with it.

"Mr. Jones" is an excellent portrayal of Bipolar I, although as a Mental Health Professional, I bristled at the plot line of a client-therapist romance (same thing with "The Prince of Tides"). One scene I remember vividly from "Mr. Jones" is when he was in the depths of depression & was standing in a cold, dark rain. I commented to my friend who was watching with me - "That is what depression feels like." It was the best description of depression I've ever seen - without words, but communicated accurately. My friend, who had seen me struggle with bouts of depression, really understood what I'd been trying to explain.

Dymphna, would you like to start a discussion on movies & mental illness? I'm sure we all have ones we loved or hated; those we wish we'd never seen or ones we would watch over & over again.

(Sorry for being late in answering this. I've been busy with buying a new house & all the drama that entails. Thought I'd take a break this morning & pop in on BP Forum.)

~Geri~

Comment by dymphna on October 11, 2009 at 7:08am

this may not be the place to post this.

the movie mr jones (starring richard gere) was on tv today. i remember watching this movie when it was new, and identifying. two of the times i have been hospitalized they showed this movie to us. i remember (most vivdly) the contrasts they showed. like when he is manic and shows of his mathematical prowess by calculating interest at the bank, then later he is depressed and has a lot of trouble helping his friend's kid with his arithmetic homework.

i also named one of my bettas mr jones.

Comment by Lisajns on September 11, 2009 at 8:46am

Hey, just thought i'd share, today is World Suicide Prevention Day. I wanted to do something with my support group but we didn't know what to do...but im posting here to remind you guys about it......

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