Correct me if I’m wrong, but bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) seems to have less societal acceptance than depression without mania (chronic, dysthymia, etc). Depression seems more common: Is it?
Maybe the depressed share their stories more often. As far as I know, no one has ever called me “crazy” for being depressed. Sure, some bitter exes, some close friends have called me crazy. I am a woman, after all, but people legitimately use the word “crazy” to describe bipolar people and that’s not fair at all. They are both very similar mental illnesses.
Despite my hatred of the word “crazy,” it is important to note that Bipolar Disorder can be much more difficult to maintain, especially without medication. It’s more obvious. A depressed person may act completely normal when they’re depressed, but if you’re manic, it’s a bit harder to hide, it’s harder to be high-functioning.
Any mental illness can make you seem like a different person, can make you irritable, can make you hard or mean, but I’ve noticed these personality changes affect bipolar people more than depressed people or schizophrenic people. Perhaps this is why there’s a harder stigma?
As depression is becoming less and less taboo, Bipolar Disorder is still in the “yeah let’s not talk about it” realm. I am so grateful for my fellow bloggers and friends with Bipolar Disorder who constantly talk about it with friends and strangers alike.
It is so important to talk about your mental health and how you’re dealing with it, not just for your own health, but for the health and knowledge of the community.
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The author lives with Dysthymia, a form of low-level, high-functioning Depression usually associated with people who have PTSD from childhood. She has two immediate family members with Bipolar Disorder and an uncle who died from his struggle with Depression (yup, suicide). She would not speak for others without these experiences and she is happy to discuss the matter with those who may disagree with her views in the comments below.
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I think a couple factors that influence stigma are level of knowledge and perceived unpredictability, and this probably does result in a hierarchy with stigma, likely with schizophrenia > bipolar > depression.
Absolutely. Perceived unpredictability makes sense, but is that the only factor? There is definitely a lack of education about mental illness within society... Many times, I feel like education can solve every problem in this world. Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
Oh absolutely. As Ashley said I think it has to do with people’s inability to understand and a fear of that unknown.
I definitely think bipolar has more of a stigma. Even if you are bipolar type 2 like me and don't even have severe mania, just the label itself is enough to get wary looks from others like they think you are going to explode out of nowhere or something.
I agree. I see that as well. When I tell people my mom is bipolar, they flinch a little at the very least. Meanwhile, depression just gets a "meh."