Hatred Towards the Bipolar Community
Today I was made aware of a site that went up specifically to make fun of, and show hatred towards, those with bipolar disorder. Specifically, the site is aimed at me and all those who use psychiatric services in the treatment of mental illness. Whoever wrote the site feels it's okay to take advantage of people with an illness, people who are in pain.
Well, it's not OK. We're not a joke. We are people. Real, flesh and blood people. And we do not accept your hatred. I do not accept your hatred.
People with Bipolar are a Joke
Some people would argue that bipolar disorder is overdiagnosed. I can't say for sure it is or it isn't. I haven't seen the numbers. But I know one thing, mine is one case of bipolar disorder that wasn't incorrectly diagnosed. And I know that mine isn't a case that is a freaking joke.
Bipolar hurts. Bipolar is pain. Bipolar is, at times, unbearable pain. Anyone who would make fun of that isn't funny. They are sick. And I am tired of their sickness.
Psychiatric Patients are Masochistic
Some people would contend that all those who see psychiatric help are masochistic and are setting themselves up for nothing but pain and suffering. These are the people who content that psychiatry is evil and that psychiatrists do nothing but harm people.
This is the biggest pile of bull I have ever heard. Psychiatrists make a living trying to help people. Are they perfect? No. Is every psychiatrist great? No. But are they trying to harm people? Absolutely not.
And I will not sit here idly by and listen to this hatred of psychiatry. It isn't right. Psychiatrists are doctors and they deserve the same respect as everyone else. And we, the public using the services of psychiatry, are the ones in our right mind because we recognize we have a problem and we are going to the appropriate people to get help. We are not masochistic. We are not looking for someone to hurt us. Most of us wouldn't stand for someone hurting us.
Masochistic is sitting and letting a disease eat you alive. Letting the pain steal your life. That is masochistic. We are strong and we are powerful because we don't let that happen.
Standing Up for the Psychiatric Patient
Yes, I'm a psych patient. I admit it. It's true. Yes I take the dirty meds and deal with the evil doctors and buy into the lies of biopsychiatry. Yes, everything you've heard about me is true.
But I don't deserve hatred and I don't deserve abuse. Everyone like me is already afraid and isolated and sick and tired. And none of us deserve to be the victim of cruel, small-minded bigots. None of us deserve to be made to feel worse than the illness already makes us. We deserve respect. We deserve reason.
So come with your pitchforks and torches and hatred and mockery but know this - I will not stand for it and I certainly won't lie down to it. I am here. I am crazy. Get used to it.
APA Reference
Tracy, N.
(2012, January 19). Hatred Towards the Bipolar Community, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 18 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2012/01/hatred-towards-the-bipolar-community
Author: Natasha Tracy
Thanks for bringing that up. It's ghastly, unfair, rude, mean-spirited, unethical and so on for anyone to deliberately hurt people with mental illnesses. I'm not going to let them rent space in my head. I am glad to know about them. Thanks for sharing the news and taking a stand. I am with you. And acutely bipolar also.
Yes. I too take meds use psychiatric services, have been hospitalized and work very hard at being here in this life and having a life in this life. They can k.m.a..
Generally, I wouldn't wish the pain of depression on even my worst enemy. I wouldn't want to think anyone goes through life feeling how I have felt in the past. But on this occasion, screw it. These people DESERVE to feel this pain to gain some empathy and understanding. I hope karma bites them hard on the butt.
Ironic that you just posted this because I just read that peice on an aquaintance's Face Book page. I read her the riot act. This is what I wrote;
"With all due respect, this is rabid bullshit. FYI some people (not all but some) do receive caring help, healing and hints on how to build a life worth living. I had several hospitalizations like that. Good treatment does exist. Because of that I have tried to build a life worth emulating. Although it is a tongue in cheek post, it just promotes more false information, misunderstanding, stigma and fear among folks already ashamed to reach out for help. I am shocked at you. Where is your compassion?!?"
To be honest, I am not really shocked at all. She buys into the black and white thinking that is the glue of the anti-psychiatry movement. Life must be simpler when you think you know what's right for everyone . Kinda like an orthodox religion.
Hi Amanda Lynn,
I wasn't shocked at the content but was pretty surprised that is was about me personally. I don't generally consider myself worthy of such ire. Such hatred and such people exist, but when they aim it at you, it's still pretty shocking.
- Natasha
This is terrible. I want to see this website... what kind of *deleted string of explitives*... :P
Hi,
I appreciate your support but I'd prefer not to give the site any public recognition and hope it dies on its own.
- Natasha
I just read this. I know that when people demonstrate extreme hatred they are either: 1) bored, 2) have been bullied and are now bullies themselves 3) struggling with their own mental illness but are in complete denial of it 4) just your plain, ordinary garden-variety sociopath 5) truly ignorant to the point where they can't imagine others have different experiences of life than their own (talk about narcissistic) and finally, 6) overzealous jerks who cannot accept anything different from their own beliefs (which I view as extremely insecure). Moreover, these same people will completely violate others in order to make a point - though the only point they are making are numbers 1 to 6 above. Though belated, I am so sorry you had to go thru that.