Success in life helps ease pain of stigma

Business owner and district health board candidate Lynlee Aitcheson has lived with being bipolar for 26 years. Dealing with other people's negative attitudes can be hard, she writes at the conclusion of Mental Health Awareness Week.

I watched YouTube this morning, the comedy videos about stigma people experience with mental illness.
Laughter is a great medicine and too often I connected with the comedian's true funny stories. I've had bipolar for 26 years - also known as manic depression. With good doctors, lithium and family support, my condition is manageable.
Accepting my diagnosis was difficult. Bipolar is a non-curable disorder. I used to feel lonely, judged, and different. Famous people such as NZ sports journalist Murray Deaker, actresses Linda Hamilton (Terminator) and Carrie Fisher (Star Wars) serve as examples to me of people who can achieve good things in their lives, reaching their dreams.
Right now I feel more meaning and purpose in my life. I was able to participate in our local body elections for our district health board. Evidence suggests that people who are flourishing are less at risk of physical and mental health problems.
Three decades later, I now challenge people who foster stigma in terms of discrimination of the mentally ill. Dealing with other people's emotional reactions and negative attitudes, I say their prejudice is based on horror movie misconceptions.
Bipolar disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance. It is a physical problem and has nothing to do with your character or intelligence. Mania in my opinion is the best value high I know, the manic state of mind is so sought after sales managers enjoy the synergy, but as we know, what goes up must come down. That's the horrible part for me and, without medication, my mood swings would make life intolerable and difficult.
What's the difference between the psychiatrists and the patients at the mental hospital?
The patients are the ones that eventually get better and go home.