Things You Can Say

[paranoid_cataclysm]

What are some things I can say to people instead of just coming right out and saying I have a mental illness?  I've said before there's a medical reason for things wrong with me such as where people say it's hard to follow me when I talk but I was wondering if there's something better I can say.

[ILADVOCATE]

Disability as defined by Social Security is limited to disabilities that make a person unable to work in their terms. Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act is far broader and bipolar is definitely covered. Co-workers also can't make derogatory remarks about a person's disability as well as its discrimination. Its up to a person whether to disclose or not but it makes sense to disclose to your supervisor if you need reasonable accomodations and legally they can't inform anyone else.

[Xila31]

I understand what you mean. I hate it when people force you into a corner trying to explain things you want to keep private. Like I had to go to the doctor two times due to being allergic to my medicine. I told my co-worker I had to follow up on an allergic reaction to a medicine. Then they ask "What are you taking the medicine for?" I don't want to tell. I don't feel I need to tell everyone in the world and I should choose who knows. So, I just said it was a mood stabilizer but didn't give details, because I don't want to lie but I don't want to tell everything.

If people are rude and tell you that you're not disabled, just politely say, well there are many types of disability. Then excuse yourself. The nerve of some people. Not everyone who is sick or disabled looks it.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Ah yeah but they told me I'm not disabled even though I can't handle working full time and have a lot of trouble functioning like a normal person so I didn't want to be a liar.

[ILADVOCATE]

I just say I have a disability. There's no need to specify in my opinion.

[CrzyBeautiful1]

I have the same problem with ppl not being able to follow me when I'm talking. I find it hard to get to the point of what I'm trying to say. I can't think of the right words and I stumble on words alot and have trouble trying to find the right way to say something. Or my words come out as they are crossing my mind, and I'm well known to "jump around" on different topics in my conversation while I'm trying to basically say one thing. I go off on tangents alot. I don't know if thats common with bipolar or BPD, but I know it definitely comes from my ADD.

I just tell ppl to excuse me, its my ADD showing and then we both laugh it off. Maybe they think I'm joking, who knows. In ur case I would probably say the same thing u do...if someone isn't understanding me I would just simply say its a medical thing and leave it at that. Also, don't think that u have to explain urself to everyone. If u feel u want to then thats fine, but ur not obligated to explain urself, and its not their business if u don't want it to be.

I often find that I feel like I have to explain myself to ppl. I feel like I have to explain why I do certain things I do. The worst thing is when those ppl kinda roll their eyes at my excuse and say something like, "oh god, EVERYONE has a mental illness nowadays."  Oh, so u don't take me seriously...well then EFF YOU!!! lol