“Being hit below the belt and then people taking the mickey out of you.”

I'm not sure about being Bi-polar and proud, I'd rather not have it, thanks. But I'm not ashamed either. I think that I can track my periods of "mania" of being very stressful periods where others and myself have driven me to achieve to unhealthily high standards, which I achieved at the cost of my health, the lows have been preceded by rejection, or traumatic events. I think if you are clever and sensitive and care too much what other people think and hang too much importance on your achievements for your self worth, then you do get driven to sleepless nights and extreme punishing regeime of creativity or achivement and our whole school and work system encourgages it.

Instead of focussing on the illness, I've tried to read about what truely makes people happy, things like learning something new (cooking or dance for example), exercise, good relationships, using your talents, taking time to notice things like a sunny day or the sound of a bee buzzing and being generous and giving something back, like volunteering (see the new economics foundation for more). Above all it's about listening to your body and mind when they tell you that you need a rest and,when you can, putting your own basic needs before other people or before achievement. I'm hoping that will keep me on a steady road.

My mum had a psychosis after a very difficult birth with my sister and she had a breakdown when her dad died and then her mum died slowly of dementia, but when she recovered and got back to work and a more steady life, she's never had a day off work from mental health issues since, that was 15 years ago. She's now a university professor, so it turns out she wasn't mad, she'd just had a hard life

I think a better metaphor for not having wellbeing is an injury rather than an illness, it gives me hope that just like with a broken leg with rest, care and changes I can make a full recovery, what do others think?

I think Frank Bruno's experience highlights painfully that it is the social stigma - perpetrated by "normal" persons - that aggravates and often overwhelms bi-polar itself.

Terminal illness, broken limbs and any visible physical illness all attract enormous sympathy - but woe betide you if your mind starts to go off the rails. It's either "snap out of it, and pull yourself together" or your are simply shunned even by those you thought you knew well - and yet still aware of the vicious whispering behind your back.

It's not unlike the witch-hunts of the seventeenth century.......if that's not too strong a comparison.

And yet, I almost think I have been lucky to experience bi-polar because it has made me humbler, more inclined not to slot other people into a rigid social category and I can honestly say that it has made me a much stronger, resilient person..........I now know that I MUST be tougher than I ever imagined to still be here and to have a life that has genuine quality and a much, much wider outlook on the world - as opposed to striving to fit in as a "normal" person and being constrained by all the narrow and blinkered parameters that go with living that way.

And good on Frank for really coming back fighting - as a high profile sportsman his breakdown was on full public display. It takes real guts to come through that.........

LSF

I think Frank was so brave to come on television on behalf of Bipolar sufferers but he spoke eloquently about all Mental Health problems also. I have been treated for depression, chronic, recurrent depression when all along I knew I was Bipolar. My mother was diagnosed as Manic Depressive when I was born 55 years ago following a psychotic episode following my birth. It has taken almost thirty years for my correct diagnosis.
I struggled to work as an RGN, crying a lot, extreme highs etc but still the diagnosis did not come. I still struggle and I am on Lithium, which took away the high episodes ( THE ONLY BIT THAT WAS FUN) Now my life feels numb,still manage my house plus caring for my mother but is a lonely world I live in.
At fifty five, my life is still a day to day struggle, I cannot plan anything in advance as I do not know how I will feel on any given day. I am just finishing a Fine Art degree which has stretched to the ends of my tether as mostly I feel very low. Not all tutors realise hiw damn wretched I feel, make no allowances for my illness and I struggle more than most completeing my work. I wish I had never tried to do this course, but I wanted to do something that was just for myself. This causes an inability to even think let alone be creative! My problem is, others seem to think I choose to feel depressed...God if they only knew what goes through my mind at those low times! I had Lithium toxicity and have never felt ok since, I am now on half the dose but am still low, on top of that my wonderful psychiatrist has been moved and that loss has made me feel quite rejected and more helpless than ever.
So, all I want to say really is that if it were not for good friends how know me well, and my mother and daughter...there would be no reason for me being alive....I am sick to death of others saying things behind my back in college, it speaks volumes about them, their disregard for others and pure ignorance. We do not choose to have mental health issues, it is genetic in my case...and....I love me for the caring woman I am, I do not judge others, I have lots of friends who also have mental health issues and I love each and every one of them...they are true friends who like me..look out for one another. If people have a problem with mebtal health problems...they can keep away from me, keep their stupid comments to themselves and leave me in peace! I do not need them!

LSF
Good for Frank making a stand for Bipolar sufferers! I thought it was a very brave move on his part. He should be proud of his valiant effort and educating the masses to our 'disorder.' I too am Bipolar and I am sick and tired of people holding it against me and my friends. I am in college and as a mature student the swings from high to the dreaded lows are an absolute nightmare.I take my Lithium religously, visit the psychiatrist, battle my demons plus the toxicity from the lousy drugs, and still have to cope with the cruelty of others with their prejudice and harsh comments! We have Mental Health counsellors etc but at the end of the day, working to deadlines has been a nightmare. Some tutors do not make any allowances for the mood changes, others are very understanding. I have found some students are very cruel, using it as a club to batter us down with, very destructive when we are already trying our best to'conform' to a abnormal environment and trying out utmost to gain a degree! Well shame on them! I am proud of myself AND my illness, I have some wonderful friends who, like me suffer from the same 'disorder'..I use the term very loosely, I find it hard to use the term as it is quite normal to me, I was brought up by a Bipolar mother...so our illness is NORMALITY, we are used to it! High or low, we just love ourselves and others. Day to day it is a hard illness to predict, even with the meds, but the one thing I would say to people is just this....the down periods are awful, but remember it will pass and although manic phases are knackering ...they make me feel great! They too will pass, the lows do return but hey...we need a damn good rest by then! Let us tell these ordinary people that we are PROUD of who and what we are! I tell everyone I am Bipolar..and stand u strong and proud. If they can't handle it...it is THEY who have a problem...NOT ME !!!! GO...BIPOLAR and PROUD!