The War for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder. They say only the greats have it. The most talented souls were always the most tortured. Or were they?

Bipolar disorder always directs me to poor old Vincent van Gogh. One of my favourite painters, and a deeply troubled guy. Luckily, he had a brother who never gave up on him and knew when to ask for help.

We were not always this lucky. Even the great Sylvia Plath, under the Bell Jar, had no idea how to ask for help. Do I blame Ted Hughes? Do I blame God? What a terrible tragedy. At least she knew what she was doing...and she was so beautiful.

Bipolars (or Manic Depressives, as the rock 'n roll world knows us) weren't always allowed to express themselves as I am now. While Edgar Allen Poe's words will make me laugh and cry, and move me, and inspire me, I can also gain insight into how the man was tortured, alone, broken-hearted, and beaten down by life.

Bipolars are generally not huggy, kissy people. The ones I've dated take some extreme getting used to. They are not romantics and prefer to give gifts, as opposed to receiving them. Bipolars are always looking to improve their code of ethics, and build upon their bright ideas (without going overboard).

Bipolars dive into religious systems whole-heartedly and are often shifting their beliefs, as they are sometimes disappointed by the dominant ideologies of their time.

Bipolars can (and do) get married. They generally know if they are gay or straight early on in life, but admire the opposite (or same) sex just the same. I would like to believe Bipolar disorder lends itself to great beauty and deep-rooted trust.

Our detractors are many. Why?

1. The catholic church was once very cruel to anyone who acted "funny" or laughed or cried when they weren't supposed to.

2. Jesus wasn't really supposed to come back. Most of the stories that Jesus Freaks tell are so beautiful...but c'mon, who really wants miracles in this day and age? If you saw Jesus walking down the road, would you look the other way? Or would you give him a ride to the 7-11 and buy him a Slurpee?

3. Muslims. I'm not touching Islam with an 11-foot pole. So there.

4. Communists are cool but weren't always friends with the freaks who chose to express their emotions. I would rather hang out with the red-stars than not, but once upon a time, Communists were violent and cruel.

The big problem is mental health care in this country. Instead of empowering us to work together to improve in-patient treatment facilities, we're always at war with one another. There's a pecking order from the beginning of time that invites chaos to our table.

Mental health care is desperately in need of a culture. Whether it be a creativity culture, academics, gaming (on-and-offline), athletics...let's support one another! Let's cheer for our chess champions! Let's paint pretty pictures together! Let's play Operation or UNO until we fall asleep!

Mainly, let's protect each other. There are a lot of creeps out there who feast on the brains of our brothers and sisters...who steal from us and lie to us b/c they want to see us afraid, and paralyzed.

Not every person with a mental disorder belongs on Main Street USA. Some of us cry too much, some of us laugh too much. And then there are those who choose the sickness over anything else. They fight their own renegade-zombie wars and they *don't* know how to ask for help.

Let's teach them that they're not a waste of flesh. Let's let them know that just because they were abused, or they have addiction issues that are catalysts for abuse. Let's tell them how not to abuse their peers, let's give them another chance. Let's give THEM hope, too.

There are some people who cannot be rehabilitated by biofeedback, chair-massages, make-overs, candy bars, sex, cosmopolitans, nor all the riches in the world. And they suicide. Regardless of who we are, the Suicides were the individual's decision. We will not be tortured by suicide. We will not be held hostage b/c of someone else's hair-trigger. We will honor our dead, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Suicide= the perceived lack of love, hope, or the right to a home.

Do not mistake suicidal tendencies for someone thinking, "Ha. I will be dead, and they will all be sorry." It is more than a cry for help. It is the detection of immediate, urgent need for something the person doesn't have. It could be heat, electricity, food, water, friends, a loved one who has passed, or simply even one's misplaced medication.

Some people don't think they should share their country with me. I say I deserve a life. Because I am a friend to those in need...and those in need should stick together.

Can you hear me, Major Tom?

i guess that's the ok. the all-clear. time to leave while i still can. time to bleed it into the bag for someone else-- oh wait, i forgot, they don't want my blood here, in philadelphia. no bloodmobile following THIS patient around, now is there? what, they don't want my eyeballs? everything else is incendiary matter. if they fail. if they don't take the Big One out. so why don't i just stop this forever, stop complaining because god helps those who help themselves, and if you cannot help yourself, you might as well not take up any space here anymore on this blue planet.

goodbye.

It's Just That Simple.

Find Out the Truth About Jamie's Health.

choose 1 (one) of the following:

A. Jamie has tuberculosis and is going to *die* if you don't make a contribution of at least 500 megabucks to your local TB foundation!

B. Jamie has an ovarian cyst.

C. Jamie's cyst has a name, address and phone number.

D. Jamie is a little paranoid and needs some Risperidal.

E. Jamie has officially Busted A Gut, and yes, it hurts.

F. Jamie would rather party like it's 1999 than catch perverts, but it's a living.

and finally,

G. All of the above.


*Winners see their names up in lights*

for those of us who on the mend

--->!!!!EXTRA EXTRA!!!! STALK OR BE STALKED!!!! <---

that's right! fixate yourself on someone you Like and start "thinking about them and touching yourself." (--Divinyls)

peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeace and red cross blood drivesssssssssssssssssssssssss

Must I Repeat Myself?

Must I repeat myself?