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July 14, 2008, 10:16 am PDT
been there
Quote From: killerb255Sorry, but I think at this point you should be ashamed of yourself. Don't get me wrong: this is a result of a lack of education, but you should be ashamed nonetheless. You don't tell someone in a wheelchair that they can stand up and walk if they wanted to badly enough! Therefore, you don't tell someone with bipolar disorder that they can control their ups and downs if they wanted to badly enough!
Many people don't look at mental disorders in the same way as, say, a physical disorder. Mental disorders aren't as transparent. If someone's missing a leg, you can see that, and if you're good at seeing things from perspective, you can empathize with the person (you may not be able to do so to the point of emulating the exact experience that person had, but...)
Don't get me wrong. Some people do hyper-exaggerate their limits, making it easy to use their disorders as an excuse for their actions. Their actions are not any more right because they have a disorder, BUT...if they were able to exercise full control of their actions, it wouldn't be a disorder, wouldn't it? Just a different point of view from someone who has been there. I do see your point that of course you should not pick on someone in a wheelchair. But, let's say I have a diabetic friend that stuffs his face full of donuts and then just doesn't take his insulin for three days? Where's that land him? Yep....in a diabetic coma. Is that his fault? You bet! Can I hold him responsible? Darn right, I can! These bipolar patients can be down right manipulative.......I know.........I've been married to one for 20 years! They cycle on and off their meds and can and SHOULD be held accountable for their behavior. The bottom line is they CAN help it at times because they CHOOSE to be off their meds. Now, before I get a bunch of nasty hate mail.........I know it's not a catch all. It's not all bipolar patients that do this, thank goodness. Some are completely compliant and do have difficulties with cycling even on the medicines. The difference with these folks is that they are in tune with their bodies and are usually working closely with their health care providers to avoid these episodes and manage the hurt that they would and do cause others. Being realistic....no one in their right mind wants to cause another person pain. The fact is, a noncompliant patient is ON their medicine when they choose to go off them. Get my drift? It's part of the "illness", I know, but it's a choice we have with any illness.........to choose wellness and the treatment or to chuck it all and hurt the people we love. Can you tell I'm sick of living with it or what? hee hee!
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