Stephen Fry "Quits" Twitter, Then Returns: "A mood thing"

I occasionally tweet about my bipolar, but generally it gets blogged if anything else. I find it alienates a LOT of people, and I don’t like to dumb it down to anyone’s level so to speak as I’ve seen others do. It’s not glam, it’s not fun.

I never post about my bipolar. I’ve noticed that people start to treat me different when they find out I have bipolar. I can imagine that the effect could be greater and harder for me to detect online.

I don’t write about it on Facebook but I have left links to my blog there, and my blog is all about “Living Bipolar” without meds. All the comments on the blog have been kind. I can relate to Fry though. A few weeks ago I removed ALL of my info from Facebook and added an automated response to my e-mail account that simply said I would be incommunicado, indefinitely. I find all communication, especially electronic to be a challenge because of this disorder.

I never disclose BP on any web page, mostly due to the fact that peeps are SO uninformed. I find it carries a greater impact if you just wait for a longer period of time (for them to REALLY get to know you) before you mention it in passing. Many already have a relative or friend who may still be struggling, so for them to realize YOU have BP can really shake up their sometimes biased, confused perspective. Lithium rocks . . it just doesn’t let your illness rock you

I have always disclosed my diagnosis on my MySpace page, and gotten lots of support – in fact, a lot of bipolar friends, and/or friends/family of bipolar folks – wanting to friend me because of it! It has been an excellent networking tool for me in more ways than one.

I don’t discuss my bipolar status on my Facebook page for because of the uninformeds and ignorants who seem to take great pleasure in judging those of us who struggle with mental health issues.
It took me some time to freely share about having the disease of addiction and while I have fully and completely accepted both my diseases – and made peace with them – There are places I CAN go where I know I wont be judged or have to put up with ignorance and mean people.

I”m usually guarded about sharing my saga about BP. I have mentioned it a few times on Facebook commenting on the walls of old work chums who tolerated my mood swngs for years. They knew I took meds for behavior. And in going over my activities on Facebook I will mention going to a BP meeting. Other than that, I am pretty well closeted. I treat it like my alcohol recovery: pretty much anonymous except where it might benefit someone to know.

I can’t disclose my BP status on any social networking site. Too many of my “friends” are co-workers. The atmosphere at my job is not conducive to understanding, accepting, or adapting to mental illness. The only support I have is my family, a few close friends, and this website.

I never comment on my disorder although i do see wall posts calling the weather Bipolar or comments such as ” i am having a Bi day” which is not funny for us who must cope with this disorder.

Because of the broad range of friends I have on my facebook.. I dont speak of my dxes… I have groups of friends from various parts of my life there… including many from my bipolar support group… but as a group we decided that since so many of us have others that know nothing about that “side of us” we’d keep it off of facebook. My personal web page, however, tells the stories of my struggles, and those of my special needs son, so if I meet someone that I think wouldn’t be judgmental, I can share that with them.

I never post about bipolar- there are too many quizzes and stuff on it called “what mental illness do you have?” and “How crazy are you?”, etc. I have noticed that people who don’t know me are clueless or treat me very differently when I disclose. I recently had a bad work experience where I disclosed and the boss started playing mind games with me, like keeping me out of the loop, becoming nasty, drastically changing my job responsibilities, etc. So, I keep my business off FB and only disclose, if I want to, to help someone else, by private message.

It’s extremely hard on FB. I’ve got most from my church on there and all everyone wants to say is “You are healed in Jesus Name!!” Which is great, but so far, He has chosen medication for that..they don’t like it.

Mainly, people just don’t respond. I’m actually thinking about just deleting my account. I get enough real world pressure, I don’t need it on line either..it used to be a way for me to connect, but now, all it does is ruin friendships and creates havoc. Most of the “friends” have I won’t let see my status anymore!!!! This after numerous comments that though well-intentioned…were completely mean and nasty.

I like the games, but that’s about it anymore..

I would NEVER say ANYTHING about my bipolar or addiction on FB! I have lost 95% of my friends and family because of the stigma.

I never mention my bipolar diagnosis on Facebook or twitter because as my therapist always tells me, bipolar is not who I am, its a diagnosis. I, do talk about it in a private blog however.

After having a somewhat recent manic episode and using the internet as a place to write all the stuff out as I was going through it…. I have pretty much kept to myself and not written anything about my illness. Personally, I find the whole thing embarassing and would rather not talk about it openly. Those who know me have taken it in stride and have been very understanding. People I do not know so well have said unkind things about me behind my back and I figure the less said, the better.

I’m not huge on Twitter or Myspace, although I have memberships there. I prefer Facebook and, over at Yahoo, there is a site called “Yahoo Groups” I am in a group, exclusively for bi-polar patients or the people who love them. I have discussed so much with the other gals (it just so happens that everybody in the group is female) in “The Polar Bears” b/c I feel so very, comfortable there. You can really build somewhat of a bond on the internet, whether people believe you can or not you can. There is a
comrade feeling between us.

I have never used Twitter so can’t really comment on that.
Facebook, I use when I feel like it to let people know whereabouts I am and to catch up with friends etc. I have never mentioned openly about bipolar, for it will affect them differently and I don’t want all my ‘friends’ to know about it.
Certain select ones, who have seen me at my worst did not need it explaining to them; they were supportive and those are the ones I talk to online about it, using messenger services e.g. MSN or Yahoo messenger.

I am extremely open about my bipolar disorder on Twitter (ditto BPD). I do mention it on Facebook, but not with such frequency, as I know a lot of my old school friends there would still hold a stigma about mental illness. To try to counter that, I try and post as many informative links re: mental health matters as I can.

Of course my Twitter and FB accounts under this pseduonym are completely forthright – this includes all the info on self-harm, psychoses and whatnot, of which normals are scared. This account is anonymised for their benefit, not mine; I’m not ashamed.

I do make references to such things on my main accounts, though more in third person, generic ways. But I am open about most aspects of my illnesses.

I am very open about my Bipolar and also write about it on my business blog as does my husband living with me and how he helps in supporting of my Bipolar over 18 years. I’m very open on Facebook also and have other friends on Facebook who are Bipolar, and ADHD. I think this is a great way to help rid the stigma of mental disorders. It’s important for someone with Bipolar to think before they post though