Stigma

I have bipolar disorder and I know what if feels being misunderstood and being said "it's all in your mind, get over it."



My family, my mother, my grandmother, my father, they thought I was pretending. They thought I was perfectly sane, even if it was clear that I wasn't. I remember that a year ago I wanted to be on medication, because I thought medicines would have helped me, and then my mother and grandmother telling me that I was healthy and sane, to stop pretending I was sick.



In january I asked my mother to bring me to another psychiatrist, another time. She agreed immediately, she said I was insane, when I told her that I hear voices in my head, that something always controls me and watches me, that I have suicidal and homicidal fantasies, added to my mood swings. But the psychiatrist said it was nothing, I was sane, so she brought me to another doctor, and ta-da, I am bipolar.



I usually tend to think I'm not suffering, maybe because I'm really young, but then I think a minute, and admitt: I really suffer, I ******* suffer. And don't tell me that, because I'm 16, I'm only a stupid adolescent that is pretending to be sick just to obtain attention. And please, don't fear me, really, I'm not going to kill you. At least until I can't control myself anymore, until I obey my voices.



I really appreciate that you changed your opinion. Everybody should make your experience.



Phalaena.

I am glad you can empathize and not just think we are all "crazy". It's really hard to reach out for help when people only see you as your condition.



I applaud those who work in the mental health field. If not for a very kind therapist, I probably would not be alive today.

I too have anxiety issues, but have never sought out professional treatment...now that i work for a mental health organization and see and hear for myself that I'm not alone, I will get the help I need so I can live the anxiety free life I deserve :)

I couldn't agree more! I am tired of people not taking me seriously because i have mental illnesses. i have a few disorders; so of course everything i say MUST be made up and all in my head.



it hurts, a lot.