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Sometimes people ask me where they should go for an online support group. Sometimes people ask me what other blogs I read. These are reasonable questions, unfortunately, my answer is: I would know, I don’t go there. I find many online haunts full of misinformation and misrepresentation. And I hate misinformation and misrepresentation.
I have no problem with bipolar online support groups. Many people find them very useful and I would never try to dissuade someone from seeking one out. People need to connect with others like them, and that is one way to to connect with others with a mental illness.[push]Online support groups are rife with misinformation and misrepresentation. No matter how well-meaning the participants.[/push]
That said, I don’t like the places much. I find online support groups full of whiny people offering misguided and often untrue layperson information. I have no doubt that there are groups online that are not like that, but in my limited experience, they are.
As for other blogs, I am sure there are many good ones. I have occasionally mentioned a few on the bipolar burble blog. But I don’t read them, generally. It comes down to writing quality, quality medical information and time. Quality writing is hard to find, trustworthy medical information can be tough, and of course, like most people, I don’t have a lot of time. I tend to digest medical information from journals and the occasional feature news story. They’re just more useful to me. Everyone’s biases are upfront.
All that being said, I must admit, I did something stupid. I’m on a Twitter feed and last night I clicked on one of their articles. And the blog article was crap. Misinformation and misrepresentation of information.[pull]I feel like I have to fight the good fight on every front. When I see misinformation and misrepresentation, I feel the need to interject. I wish to bring rationale and logic forward. But this is the internet. It wasn’t built for such things.[/pull]
I hate misinformation and misrepresentation. Like, a lot. People who do that make me want to smack them with a journalism degree.
And the thing is, I find it really difficult to stay quiet when I see misinformation and misrepresentation. I just want to slap double-blind placebo-controlled studies all over their ass. And admittedly, that is still unconvincing to many. People still think there’s a big pharmacology conspiracy at work. I can’t help those nuts, but I feel this gritty duty to write about the wrongs anyway. I want to just say so when people are lying. They’re lying, damnit!
And OK, as the author said, I got snippy.
I did, I admit it. I’m not perfect. I should have just made a couple of empirical points and walked away understanding that this is a very different audience than mine and that audience is likely to attack me. I’ve been on the internet forever, I know you can’t say anything controversial in a comment without a flame-war ensuing. I know this. And yet I allowed myself to be bated. Bad writer, bad. There are much better ways to express my thoughts than that.
Le sigh.
Now, in the author’s defense, he did change the blatant inaccuracies, which I do appreciate.
So, if you’d like to have a look, tell me I’m wrong, or snitty, or perhaps lend a comment in support, go right ahead.
And just in case you were wondering, some blogs by crazy people that I do like are:
Tomorrow I will unveil Holly Gray’s post on dissociative identity disorder. It’s a good one. You don’t want to miss it.
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
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I’m never going to call bipolar pain a “gift.” Most days, I just want it to stop. But emotional and even physical pain aren’t always random torture—they’re often trying to tell us something. This piece digs into what your pain might be saying, how to listen, and how that can make living with it just a little easier.
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Doug Bremner’s claims are ridiculous! Way to go speaking out against zealots. Thank you for providing us with informed information.
When I saw the title, I actually thought you were referring to the GLEE episode last night with Gwen Palthrow as teacher playing a “bipolar” Mary Todd Lincoln near the end of the episode. That was just bizarre.
Ah that I was so au courant. Alas, no. Nose stuck in bipolar information. And writerly things. Hope it was fun.
– N
Hi Lisa,
Yeah, the conversation has gotten all zealous and without thought so I've stepped out. I can allow the anti-psychiatry zealots to have their little party without any further interruption from me.
Thanks for the compliment. I try.
– N
I am just as irritated by misinformation. And by the comments to the post questioning whether Bipolar even really exists. When they have screamed at their 2 year old daughter out of the blue or been handcuffed and "escorted" to involuntary hospitalization, then they can discuss whether or not it exists. How's that for snitty?
BTW, love the blogs and your honesty. They both have been a great help in recent weeks. Keep up the great work!
Susan,
Oh, I know, it's a love-fest in here :)
– N
Thank you for the mention. I like your blog too you know.
(((((N))))))))