DBSAlliance

104 people voted on the Flipswitch page, Facebook, Twitter. During Charlie Sheen hysteria, I asked if it's a good thing when wild celebs like Sheen are labeled bipolar. Shortly after, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Demi Lovato revealed their bipolar diagnoses. People left some passionate responses. Check it out!

The CBS cop drama Blue Bloods (Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg) episode "Cellar Boy," which aired on May 6, 2011 featured a suspect with bipolar disorder (Nathaniel Marston). Its sensitive portrayal of bipolar busted TV's "Bipolar Boogeyman Myth." With a look at bipolar jokes of the recent past from Monk and Glee along with viewers' comments, Flipswitch explores how this myth came to be before showing how the CBS drama blows the myth out of the window!

Over the past few years, bipolar disorder has been in the news a lot. It's also been the star of story lines on Oprah, ER, and General Hospital. This blog explores the "Bipolar Bum Myth"--what it is, how it came to be, and whether or not TV is evolving in its portrayal of bipolar.

Sally Field played Maggie, a mom with bipolar disorder, on ER. Maurice Bernard plays mob boss Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital (GH); he incorporated his real-life struggle with bipolar into his GH character.

From Law & Order SVU's Kathleen Stabler to David Silver on the original Beverly Hills 90210 and Erin Silver (nicknamed "Silver") on the current 90210, TV has featured characters with bipolar disorder. Do any of these characters offer hope that people with bipolar can live happy, productive, law-abiding lives? Listen to find out.

Also, revealed are the results of 130 votes to the latest Flipswitch poll on Facebook, "Have you (or a loved one) ever been the victim of mental illness stigma?"

I interviewed a young woman named Jessica who talks about the Tony-award winning Broadway musical, Next to Normal, and its impact on her. Next to Normal follows the trials of a suburban mom battling bipolar disorder. Jessica who has depression, describes her other diagnoses that include panic attacks, anxiety, and nonverbal learning disorder. She tells us the big, bold step she took to overcome her fears. She also has some encouraging words for anyone with depression and discusses her parents' role in her recovery process.

Food for Thought--Ideas for Comments:

Were you encouraged by Jessica's story?

Can you relate to any of Jessica's obstacles?

Have you seen Next to Normal?

Any thoughts on parents' role in helping children with depression?

I interviewed Nicole, a 19-year old college student, who saw Next to Normal 27 times! The Broadway fan gave insight into the life of a college student with depression and talked about how she has never missed a class despite her adversity. Nicole also discussed her parents' role in her diagnosis. Her interview reveals an important key to battling depression that anyone who has depression (or anyone who loves someone with depression) should know. Listen to hear her story!

Food for Thought/Ideas for Comments:

Can you relate to Nicole?

Does depression make it hard for you to be productive?

Were you encouraged by Nicole's success despite depression?

Have you seen Next to Normal?

Do you have your own Support Network?

People joke around with the words "bipolar," "ADD," "OCD," or "Retard" everyday. People do get hurt--people living with these conditions and the people who love them. Language can be a powerful tool that either creates stigma or compassion. This interview with an 18-year old girl named Sara, who has bipolar disorder, is the first installment in a series called "In Other Words," which walks us through the lives of people living with the aforementioned mental health conditions. Sara describes her reaction to how bipolar is used in a Katy Perry song and an episode of Glee (with Gwyneth Paltrow as substitute teacher Holly Holiday).

Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments:

Do you get offended when people toss words like Bipolar, ADD, OCD, and Retard around in everyday language?

Can you relate to Sara's struggles with depression or mania?

Were you encouraged by Sara's success?

Ellie, a college senior, didn't get an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) diagnosis until age 19. She discusses life before and after diagnosis--how her academics, family life, friendships, & dating have all changed for the better! She unveils strategies for hurdles common to people with ADHD like 1) how to take exams or 2) pay attention in class or 3) talk to parents. She also unveils the #1 thing people with ADHD don't want to hear especially from their parents.

Continuing the theme from Part 1 of In Other Words (bipolar interview), we discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness. Nobody says "Gosh, I'm so cancer today" when they wake up tired but people do say "I don't want to take my finals; I'm ADD today"! We brainstorm Other Words besides "ADD" for things that have nothing to do with ADHD and find ourselves laughing and singing Lady Gaga along the way. (Listen and you'll know how Gaga's Born This Way relates to Ellie's philosophy on ADHD.)

Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments:

Were you encouraged by Ellie's story?

Has her story helped you better understand what ADHD feels like?

Do you ever get tired of people saying "He's so ADD" as an insult?

Do you know anyone who can benefit from Ellie's strategies?

Ivan, a 29 year-old lawyer, who struggled with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) tells us what OCD feels like, and how OCD jokes affect people living with the illness. His story is refreshing for young people living with mental illnesses. As someone who never got his parents support in fighting OCD, Ivan also offers valuable insights for parents listening.

Continuing the theme from Part 1 of In Other Words (bipolar interview) and Part 2 (ADHD inteview), we explore mental illness stigma. No one says "Gosh, I'm so cancer today" when they wake up tired but people do say things like "I cleaned my car this morning; I'm OCD today." We brainstorm Other Words besides "OCD" to describe people who don't have OCD.

Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments:

Were you encouraged by Ivan's story?

Has his story helped you better understand what OCD feels like?

Do you ever hear people say things like "He's so OCD" as a joke?

Need help for yourself or someone else? Check out the International OCD Foundation at www.ocfoundation.org

Wanna shine a light on what OCD really is? Interested in supporting others with OCD through art, film, song? Check out Machine Man at http://www.machinemanthemovie.com/index.php

Wrapping up the "In Other Words" series, this podcast (Part 4) looks at the R Word, retard. We see the stigma people with disabilities face through the eyes of Jimmy, a 27-year old doctor whose 19-year old brother has Cerebral Palsy and Jerry, a 23-year old Special Olympics athlete who has both ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Asperger's Syndrome. Jerry tells us why "retard" is hurtful and what word he prefers we use. Jimmy helps us brainstorm Other Words we can use besides the R Word to vent about frustrating people or situations.

Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments:

Were you encouraged by Jimmy's selfless love for his brother?

Were you encouraged by Jerry's success despite his obstacles?

Do you ever get tired of hearing people use "retard" to describe all things stupid?

Do you see the similar stigma people with disabilities and mental illness face?