Mar 13 2009
Being Bipolar: We need a positive role model!
The news is filled with stories of murderers with bipolar disorder. Clark Rockefeller’s lawyers are building his defense around two experts who will testify that he has bipolar disorder. The Wilmette murders and suicide case is now abuzz with talk of the 43-page suicide note left by Richard Wiley. He talks about having bipolar disorder and how he “could not fight off the suicide dreams”. In the case of Richard Wiley, it’s very obvious that he needed help and he had reached out for it. The letter stated he was on lithium, but it apparently was not working. I feel this man was in desperate need of a change in medication but either didn’t reach out for further help or the signs went unrecognized. It’s a terrible tragedy affecting two innocent people and their family. In the Rockefeller case, I am not convinced that this man has bipolar disorder. I cannot say for certain that he isn’t simply using it as a defense to get a lighter sentence. If that is indeed the case, it is horribly wrong and it certainly doesn’t help those who are suffering from the disorder.
Instead of constantly being bombarded with media images of Britney Spears, murders, and murder/suicides, it would be so nice to occasionally see a positive story about bipolar disorder. Wouldn’t it be nice to see someone who is successful despite having bipolar disorder? It would be wonderful to see a philanthropist who has bipolar disorder. I think the problem is that people who have this illness and are successful are afraid to speak up because of the stigma associated with the disorder. Alas, I still have hope that one day a positive role model for young adults with bipolar disorder will step forward.
Have a great day!
The society was not made for bipolar people. Sadly, I do not think society will ever accept us. When “normal” people look at us, they see someone different, and they are afraid. They see our emotions as more exaggerated than theirs and they are brainwashed by psychiatry to believe it is a problem. In an emotional sense, “normal people” are basically drones. When they see some humanity in bipolar people, they spread the lies that our depression and mania are bad and must be controlled with medication. They just want to dull us and make us boring and lifeless so we are predictable. It’s really a shame that society will not accept us as people unless we give in and let doctors medicate us.
I like being bipolar. sometimes it’s really tough and almost unbearable, but if I had to live a boring, uneventful life, i would kill myself. Medication takes away something that is a part of us. It is like amputating part of our soul. If people think it is wrong for me to have stronger emotions and thoughts than them, then forget them. Psychiatry is murder.