Should we talk openly or hide our issues?

[demonblaster]

Hey all 🙂

Personally I reckon yes and do talk openly for education, people won't understand unless they know of someone, experience it personally or hear about it.
I have BP (Bipolar) type 1 & 2) So far to my face no one's been overly negative, not to say I don't cop grief from minority of people, but don't think it's cause of speaking up about it, moreso them letting there rot out on someone. Think sometimes I must have a bloody taget on my forehead. Still at least ya know who not to bum around with.

You'd be surprised how many people once you open up a subject have something themselves or know of someone that suffers something that can be good learning and create support and understanding both ways.

I know it's hard to open up, doesn't have to be to the world but we have lifes up & downs like everyone else but harder with MI or issues. We need support and understanding.

Without education how else will people know.

Be interested in your thoughts 🙂

Hope yous are getting through the tough times, there is better than this and between us we can make it. WITH SUPPORT.

[Starwolf]

Hey Demon Blaster,

Kudos for being brave enough and try to dispel ignorance. I agree with you. Keeping things under wrap keeps the stigma alive.

Though I feel a bit hypocritical about saying this. All the years I was a screwed up mess, I did my best to hide it. I'm an old chook so that was a long time ago, another time, a different head space. Both for the general public and myself.

Of course, I'm also all for using discrimination. Sometimes opening up can bring nothing but trouble. Sussing out the "wrong people" is helpful.

Thank you for taking an active role in making a difference.

[solabear]

Hey guys, talking openly about it is very important I think, but also it's a risk of discrimination. I am very open about it in my personal life, but I hide it and don't talk about it in my professional life because of the fear of discrimination and not taken seriously.

I don't fear of rejection when it comes to my personal life. I want people to like/love me for who I am, and people who reject me for having a MI are not worth it for me anyway. There is no point building a personal relationship based on lies, so I prefer not to wear a musk.

But on the other hand, we can be easily discriminated against in work situations, employers can lose trust in a person with MH issues. It shouldn't be like that, but that's the reality.

Thank you for this thread Demonblaster, I think it's helpful to share our experiences on this issue and I hope it will inspire some of us to be more open about it in their life. The stigma is still a serious problem out there.

hugs from Sola

[demonblaster]

Star always good to see you, thanks for response as always with what you say I appreciate your input and wisdom.

Truth with risk of discrimination, personally if I was working again I'd be talking openly about it there too cause of days like now that the minds so consumed with pain and exhaustion which as we know makes functioning hard. I feel it's fair on ourselves to give the chance of understanding but yes certainly understand why people wouldn't. Shame isn't it.

Just the other day at table tennis a chooky friend who knew the past mth - 6 wks of pain and exhaustion, don't know if I said BP had snuck in amongst it said ohhh yes of course you forgot in front of everyone, I felt it was condescending, didn't react just smiled thinking beeep beep and beep, then she cuddled up and said just joking, hate it when people throw that in when it's half truth too, but then being super sensitive anyway and moreso atm sigggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Thanks Star, yeah the Stigma's gunna take long after I've left this world to probably never completely go but be understood more. One of the things I like about where we're heading as a race is that things like this is becoming more open and slight understanding out there slowly happening.

Have idea for more understanding, not Bipolary idea as in radical & almost certain it'd be a goer but not sure I'm up to the work that'd be involved but it'd definately bring more understanding, trouble is if I tell yous I'd have to hurt yaz 😄 (joking joyces 🙂 No harm in me, mind you I can oblige if need be lol

[demonblaster]

hugs to you too Solar 🙂 thanks for reply

Yes unfortunately there is discrimination and hoping which I think in time with more education out there that'll change, there'll always be those narrow minded donks around, jeez I have so little time for them but in all areas wanna open their minds to other possibilities in life and work at not being offensive in the process, not easy lol but at least they hear another side of things.

Taking positives out of extreme sadness, Celebrities, idols that take their lives to MI or issues is also an eye opener to what pain anyone can have no matter how much a good face is put on and how successful they are.

I'm getting to the point but could be cause I'm hurting hard atm with BP thinking to back off talking a bit about it but nah, have to try to not so much the same stuff though to same people, I realise it's a downer but how can you have a healthy friendship with people if they don't understand what's happening and when we're hurting is the hardest place in life we can be aye, I also care about people and am always there for them too and listen and mix it up so seems to get me by.

Hard one isn't it.

I think we need a voice, not saying me but all issues need to be aired.

Take good care Solar, hope you're doing ok 🙂

[Guest_128]

No the others have nfi,give up. The only support we will truly get is from our bred.

[solabear]

I agree with you Later.....No one really understands unless they've been through it.

Hugs

[demonblaster]

Hey later 🙂

I do know where you're coming from, and Solar saying same, but there also are people that wanna understand and help, they're the ones we need to be around. I know I do and probs most here too wanna help others too when in pain cause we know what it's like.

Maybe for a chunk of us that have severe pain, allows us to have more compassion for others.

It's terribly hard isn't it when people don't have or wanna have a clue, I say most that I've spoken to I haven't had adverse reactions, to my face that is and that suits me fine but can pick up on who doesn't give a toss which adds to ouch too.