The Effects Of Stigma On Functioning On Bipolar Disorder Patients

Watching this case study taught me how people try to deal with having bipolar disorders and how it works or does not work. For me, it was shocking how much it takes for someone to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and the fact that only half of all who suffers from bipolar disorder are actually diagnosed. Another thing that I found interesting was the fact that biological factors are hard to find when it comes to bipolar disorder, leaving it hard to diagnose bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, bipolar disorder is hereditable, and having bipolar disorder means that someone in your family had it before you. Additionally I found it odd that only 20 percent of those who suffers from bipolar disorder manage to live stabile and full functioning lives. The reason why I find this strange is due to the fact that I know someone who suffers from bipolar disorder who is fully functioning. The case study also taught me that the stigma in mental health is much worse for the people suffering from mental health issues than I expected. I believe a case study like this one is good for the stigma and hopefully it will help people admit to themselves that they suffer from a mental health illness. The last

The purpose of this essay is to explain the definitions of mental health, mental illness and psychiatric disability, using bipolar disorder as an example to illustrate these points. Bipolar disorder will also be used to explain the concepts of the medical and social models of disability, highlight the influence these two models could have on people with the disorder and the experiences they might encounter. There will be a focus on some of the experiences a person suffering from mental illness might have in society, the effect these experiences can have on an individual and the influence of stigmas and stereotypes. This leads to the final discussion point, the action of self-disablement. This section discusses how a person with a mental health issue can be influenced by labels, stigmas and stereotypes, and how this can stop them from seeking help and achieving their goals.

While stigma may not necessarily be a cause of a person’s mental disorder, it can certainly contribute to the complication and perpetuation of their illness. The effect of stigma goes well beyond just the patient and provides a commentary on society’s overall level of intolerance of those who are considered different from the majority. By recognizing the level of stigma that exists, perhaps we can alter that behavior and gravitate towards a more productive attitude towards mental illness.

While the treatment methodology for mental illness has improved over the last few decades, the negative stigma surrounding those who seek care is still a major roadblock. (Corrigan, 2004) To better understand the term stigma, the definition must first be examined. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary Stigma is defined as “a set of negative often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something; a mark of shame or discredit.” (Stigma, 2015). These views are often

To many a stigma is a disgraceful flaw, that of a negative presence. In mental health this stigma is overwhelming. Approximately 57.7 million Americans experience a mental health disorder in any given year. (National Alliance on Mental Illness) People in dire need of help are not seeking it. Mental illnesses are going undiagnosed. The mental health stigma is having a negative impact on the proper diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

Bipolar disorder was previously known as manic depression, many people believe bipolar disorder is a controversial diagnosis, some labelling it madness rather than a medical condition. Bipolar disorder is a major mood disorder and has significant impact on the person, families and loved ones. Furthermore, persons living with this mental illness often experience stigma, alienation and discrimination, and once labelled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Erving Goffman once said “Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart”.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, stigma can cause patients to feel shame, hopelessness, distress, and make them not seek help in fear of being labeled as “crazy.” Media depictions of mental illness and bipolar disorder can cause a vicious cycle. According to Atkins, stigma and prejudice against bipolar disorder can lead television and movie writers to focus on “scary, out-of-control people who do bad things” (Atkins PAGE NUMBER), which then further convinces the public that people with mental illness are dangerous. The seriousness of mental illness can also be downplayed because of stigma. By using the word “bipolar” to refer to everyday mood swings, the public may not think that bipolar disorder exists or that it is a serious ailment. According to Mikayla DeLeon, the word is used “jokingly” among her friends. In her experience, “it [is] an insult… [It’s] not really taken seriously”. These contrasting misconceptions can make people who are suffering with a mental disorder not want to seek help. They may also fear telling their loved ones because they fear being seen differently by their friends and coworkers, being labelled as “crazy,” and losing opportunities at work. Jessica Blaikie, a young woman that suffers from mental illness says that, because of the misconceptions surrounding mental illness, “I was so afraid to say anything

al, 2015; Pearl et. al, 2017). Because of this, it is important that future studies are conducted that investigate the prevalence of the mental health stigma in the United States so that nation-wide programs may be directed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Enumerating on the negative effects of the mental illness stigma is relatively easy given the fact that there is considerable research on the subject. For example, Corrigan (2004) notes that mental health stigma is linked to decreased access to mental health care in those who need it, which in turn exacerbates their situation and further perpetuates the idea that lack of proper mental health care is acceptable. According to Oexle et. al (2015), mental illness stigma is linked to a higher risk for suicidal ideation and feelings of hopelessness in those with mental health problems, which results in an increased risk of suicide. In addition, the effects of the stigma can be seen throughout the therapeutic process. As Pearl et. al note (2017), increased internalized stigma is associated with worse mental health condition, and decreased stigma results in decreased symptomatic severity in those with mental health issues. This means that if someone feels highly stigmatized throughout the treatment process that they will likely recover more slowly than those who feels less stigmatized. This again proves why it is important to study which populations suffer the most from mental health stigmatization so that it can be properly addresses in hopes of reducing the countless negative effects associated with

There is a dark stigma surrounding mental illness in general, and bipolar disorder is no exception. According to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, a stigma is “a mark of disgrace that sets someone apart.” Bipolar disorder is incredibly misunderstood by society at large, which leads to this stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. In everyday conversation, the word “bipolar” is frequently used to describe how someone is feeling at that moment. If a person is sad one moment and

When trying to distinguish between a Bipolar person and an average Joe, one might have difficulty. As the term suggests, this ailment isn’t as easily seen much like the flu, but expressed in a rather peculiar way: behaviorally emotionally, and mentally. Due to this inability to be seen, it’s much harder for doctors to accurately diagnose somebody who is thought to be sick. Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), a book that has been written and approved by the American Psychiatric Association, doctors will record a patient’s symptoms, behaviorally and emotionally, and see where he or she lands on the spectrum (Sutton 7

Before I truly understood Bipolar disorder, it was still a fairly common word in my vocabulary. Anytime I thought someone was being moody or fluctuating between emotions, I joked by claiming that person to be bipolar. Several incidents of this involved one of my roommates who seemed to be happy one day, and quite the polar opposite the next. However, it was not until my clinical experience on the psychiatric unit that I realized what true bipolar disorder was, and that she did not fit the criteria. Even though I always thought my roommate was bipolar, I quickly found after being exposed to a diagnosed bipolar patient that my roommate was instead just moody. I decided to write this paper on bipolar disorder, not because I have struggle with it or know a friend or family member with this disease, but because I had several misconceptions about what it entailed.

Bipolar disorder is a psychological diagnosis that tends to present episodes of depression and mania, thus the name manic-depression (Corry, 2010). This brain disorder causes strange mood changes, changes in routine activities and energy shifts. People suffering from bipolar disorder tend to exhibit instances of antisocial and violent behavior as they relate to people; this makes them extremely volatile and dangerous both to themselves and those close to them (Rose, 2007). The following paper will explore the political and legal issues surrounding bipolar disorder; it will also highlight the secondary and primary problems facing people with this mental disorder

I found the article, “I Actually Don’t Know Who I am”: The Impact of Bipolar Disorder on the Development of Self” (2008), by Inder, M., Corwoe., M.,T., Moor, S., Luty, S. E., Carter, J.D., and Joyce, P. R to be very interesting and very much needed. The research explored how one’s sense of self is impacted by the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (BD) at an early age. As seen in the study, the diagnosis had a major impact on the participant’s sense of identity and self worth. There was four major problem areas that were identified; “Confusion, contradiction, self-doubt, and self-acceptance” Inder, et al (2008). All of the participants in the study have indicated that these four critical areas were impacted as a result of being labeled with

Often in our lifetime we come across someone with mental illness but do we actually know how they feel or what they are going through. In the film “The Dark Horse” directed by James Napier Robertson, we go through a journey with Genesis Potini who suffers from bipolar disorder. The film gave me an insight on how society often puts down people with mental illness, which results in self-doubt, but with the support of people who look beyond your illness and the right type of medication we can see how this man truly goes through the obstacles that come along with bi-polar. My hypothesis is that people with bipolar often are discriminated in society and feel different from others, also the most effective types of treatments are prescription medication . To test my hypothesis I researched the following questions. How do people with bipolar feel about themselves? how does society view people with bipolar? and what are the most effective treatments when coping with bipolar.