The Us Versus Them Stigma

People with Bipolar Disorder are often referred to as ‘Bipolars’ or ‘BP (Bipolar People)’. Using these terms to refer to someone with Bipolar Disorder is potentially stigmatizing no matter if it is used by someone with the disease or someone who doesn’t have the disease because it immediately brings about the ‘Us Versus Them’ atmosphere and environment that will almost undoubtedly hinder if not block help and healing.

This concept goes along with the other ‘isms’ in life such as racism, sexism, agism, etc in that it puts people on opposite sides, almost immediately making them defensive and just about ready to fight to the death to defend their position in the environment/situation. A good example of this is when the ‘N’ word is used in regards to a black or African-American person or when a comment is made against a man or woman simply because of their sex. The list goes on and on, but the point is that using terms like this is prejudicial against all people making the assumption that all persons in a specific category due to an illness or lack thereof is exactly the same and has the exact same actions, reactions, decision making, problems with treatment and medications, character flaws and so on as everyone else within that same broad category.

Using these terms hinders if not blocks help and healing for everyone as our defensive human nature takes control and we lash out in defense against the person for the comment that was made unable to focus on seeing possible help or a healing experience that is right in front of us. Continuing use of these terms indicates that IT IS us versus them no matter what side you’re on. Though it will take a great deal of time for the stigmas surrounding mental illness to be destroyed, we can all take the first step by being conscious of the terms and phrases we use in referring to people with and without the illness. For instance, instead of saying ‘Bipolars’ or ‘BP’ we can broaden the scope of thought with ‘many people with Bipolar Disorder’ or ‘in my experiences with Bipolar Disorder’ remembering that no matter how many commonalities and similarities we all may have, we are still very different from each other personally, professionally and in our disease the same as all others without the disease are very different from each other personally, professionally, and in dealing with the disease.

Before closing let me also say that this is not aimed just at people without the disease referring to people with the disease; I have seen and heard (and once used myself) the term ‘Normals’ used to refer to people without the disease, used by people on both sides. This goes with the concept discussed above. There is no problem with using these terms to simply signify a distinction between the two categories (such as making a general reference to people with Borderline Personality Disorder as ‘Borderlines’); however, the context in which these terms and words are used can very rapidly become part of the problem hindering help and healing by not paying attention to the words used with them (such as ‘all Bipolars’ or ‘BP do this…’) and it is up to ALL OF US to be consciously aware of our use of these terms.

It is NOT us versus them no matter what side of the disease you find yourself on. Also, please don’t forget that many of these diseases are hereditary and therefore millions can and do find themselves on one side during one part of their life and the other side or both sides during another part of their life (such as a child of a Bipolar Parent who later develops Bipolar Disorder). If we feed into the us versus them stigma, we are only promoting segregation and hindering if not blocking potential help and healing for everyone involved, and help and healing is what we all need and deserve.

I would hope you would be willing to cut new posters a little slack as was done for me and I was able to learn as I went how to phrase things a little better.

I'm not disagreeing with anything that you have written just that there is a learning curve with this.

I did not find it a hindrance to healing at all and with the support of both the members with bipolar disorder and those who were partners of people with bipolar disorder found a road to recovery for myself. (Thanks everybody)

I don't think it's practical to expect everyone to always use politically correct terms when dealing with this. As people get more familiar it will become more natural.

I'm sure there are many as I that make an innocent mistake and mean no harm by it.

Thank you very much for your comment and you're absolutely right that it is a common thing to do when new on this site or simply new to the whole Bipolar disease. I absolutely cut everyone slack because I know how easy it is to use these terms and I know that I have used them in the past myself, which is why I wrote about the use of them with other words as well.

I will never claim to be politically correct in everything that I say and I'm not saying that using these terms is negative all the time. But I do believe that for some it can be harmful as these words can unintentionally clump people into categories making the assumption that everyone in that category is exactly the same. I did my best to watch my words as I posted this and I do hope that I haven't offended you or anyone else that might have read it as I did not mean to if I did.

Thank you again for your comment and I promise you my making this post wasn't meant to alienate or upset anyone, only to bring about an opinion that I have and has been shared with me. I don't expect overnight results on this or anything else, but if we are conscious of the words we use and the contexts in which we use them, we can avoid potentially stigmatizing statements such as the examples I made which I think will help bring both sides closer together to help promote more open sharing and communication to further healing and recovery.

Misty

Since I have been a member at this site, I have never felt an "us vs. them" attitude until I read some of the posts this weekend. I have completely benefited from advice, concern and caring from EVERYONE here. I sincerely hope that all of us can continue to treat each other with kindness, respect and understanding. We need each other and the persceptives we all bring to the forums.

We should not be so judgemental of each other, as none of us knows exactly what another person's life is like and what they are going through at that moment. The world judges us enough, here we need and expect understanding.

Post edited by: sadtee, at: 12/17/2007 10:02

Thank you very much for your comment and I'm glad my clarifying helped and that you understood my meaning behind my post. You are absolutely right about everything that you said and I greatly appreciate your understanding with my meaning.

I have the greatest respect for you as a special education teacher and for all that you go through in trying to help those that aren't at the average levels of others in the same grade or age frame. It is very difficult what you do and you obviously have a very compassionate heart.

Your husband is very lucky to have such a wonderful, understanding and supportive spouse. Thank you for being apart of this community and helping everyone benefit from your experiences, knowledge and wisdom.

Misty

I have been called names you would not believe just for admitting that I have been diagnosed with BPD. Not just from the public, but from so-called mental health professionals themselves--who should know better!

How on earth can we fight such detrimental stigma if even the doctors and nurses "buy into" all the negative stereotypes?!

No, borderlines are not perfect--I know I'm not--but I'm not a monster either (yes, I have been called that and worse--by people who don't even know me!!).

It's hard enough struggling with a mental illness without being stigmatized for having the illness--esp. when even psychiatrists and psychologists share the publics' prejudices!

Sorry for the rant (borderline rage, you know *eye roll*), but this is such a triggering thing for me.

Anyway--thank you for the kind and understanding remarks!!

I also have a "thing" about being stigmatized...but, over the years it is not a big deal to me. It just doesn't matter anymore. It is not what I am CALLED that matters, it is what I AM that counts. My opinion is that people who categorize groups of persons to look down on them are basically insecure. They do it to validate themselves.

They are not worth my effort to educate them. I have better things to do with my time.

Thanks for digging this thread out of the archives. It is a great subject that has me wondering if I have been unintentionally contributing to this issue. For the most part I think I have described Karen as "my wife, who has bipolar disorder" (and most times as "my WONDERFUL wife, who has bipolar disorder!"), but I'm sure there have been times that I have describerd her as a "bipolar". I will definitely make a consious effort not to describe her, or anyone else as "a bipolar". Now that it has been brought to my attention, I realize that it just doesn't sound very nice. If I have contributed to the us vs them stigma, I am sorry, because most of the time, I feel like one of them anyways!

Paul

Can we get beyond the name to the problem. Personally I refer to my wife in the sense of "with bipolar". The word bipolar does not describe the people group... it describes a condition, illness if you will. A person that gets upset when refed to in the sense of bipolar is probably in the acceptance phase of this nightmare.

GET OVER THE WORD! And begin talking about how to help each other through the trials and tribulations that comprise bipolar disorder!

Stigmatisims are there in every niche of our society... ya ain't gonna make them go away! The only way that the stigmatisims can hurt you is if you let them!

Stigmatism... RED HEADED PEOPLE ARE INFERIOR! (damn lived with that one all my life!) I am a red head (naturally LOL) and I even go by the name "RED", and that is in everyday life. Am I pissed about it... NO, that is who I am.

OK RANT OVER, someone can continue building the gallows for me!

GOD BLESS ALL (need I say more)

RED