Sharing Your Diagnoisis

I had decided to share my bipolar disorder to my close family members and organization that houses me and now I find that it was a mistake. Sharing information is only frustrating "normal" people are just unable to understand the complexities of bipolar disorder. Too often I hear " a lot of people have insomnia" or " your do not need as much sleep as you get older" or  " everyone feels depressed sometimes" These comments are beginning to effect my moodswings even more making life more difficult than it should be.

Some people are just uncomfortable with the idea of having a mental disorder and I do not feel the need to tell all of my diagnosis ie. psychosis, suicidal thoughts and attempts etc. For me this sharing of information has not proven to help me at all. Some bipolars fell that they may need the support of their family or close friends but think before you do. Is this beneficial or will this cause more stress on you trying to explain your symptoms and how you feel to someone who really has no idea of how you feel or what your symptoms mean.

Times when I need comforting or for someone to step in when my financial affairs are a disaster are not received with the help that I need and having someone to talk to just creates more intense moodswings. Moodswings sometimes seem so normal that people often blow them off as normal feels especially hypomania and mild depression but we know how they can become worse without medical intervention. Sometimes we a placed in hospitals only because our changes in mood frightens and are misunderstood or we are judged by past episodes.

I have been told I think you just do not need more sleep because you age getting older or you knew that it was coming just go with the flow. These comments and/or advice do not help me in any way.

So now I watch what I say when I say it. But my family did help me in one when and I am grateful my brother kept track of my emails and saw the pattern that my moodswings have taken so I know what and when to expect the depression and mania so that is a plus. But to share how and why I go through changes in my mood no I will not share again.