Bipolar Disorder

[runnah]

Whoa, this went off the rails.

I don't want to get into the subject matter because I don't know enough to have a valid comment. The photo is hard to read. The position of the head compresses the facial features making emotion hard to distinguish. The black side is even harder to read as there isn't enough contrast.

 

[Rick58]

First off, it was interesting to see the response. Especially the interaction between all of you. I appreciate the feedback.

Secondly, my intent was NEVER to sensationalize or demean a mental illness. I also did not mean to stereotype by any means. Bipolar disorder is so complicated and complex, that unless someone has it, they will never understand. I think someone said it above, to have a patient do one conveying their own perspective. The more I learn about this mental process, my feelings will probably change. It's difficult to portray what someone does not experience. First person and third person experiences are two different animals. That being said, I apologize if I offended anyone by my portrayal, as it wasn't my purpose to offend, but to portray what I experienced as a student.

I don't think any apologizes are needed. For once I think this was simply a discussion. Levelheaded and mature. I could clearly see your intent with your photo. Unfortunately this disorder isn't black and white (pun intended). You could have photographed Superman holding a Jellyfish and it would have been just a accurate, or even a baby sleeping in the fetal position. I could go on and on. BP is a VERY, very complex disorder that leaves no two days alike.

 

[unpopular]

But wouldn't his interpretation of the disorder be the think that he is trying to convey? And if his attempt has failed to convey that disorder correctly, then wouldn't his photograph fail?

Not necessarily. We can only convey that which we know. Having not experienced the condition, this one-dimensional take on it seems fitting.

So an actual alcoholic would be offended by an actor playing an alcoholic?

It's like Mr. Magoo, or (and more fitting) Silver Linings. It's if the depiction is done with a degree of depth, or if it's only a caricature - if it's about alcoholism at it's core, or if it's about the surface of alcoholism. 28 Days (very poor) verses The World's End (very good). And besides, a self portrait is not the same as an actor playing a part.

But really, that's all I have to say about this, Lew. I do get what you're saying.

Just don't try to invalidate my response because it doesn't reflect the artist's intent.

 

[unpopular]

And I agree. Apologies are definitely not needed. To the OP: it is not YOU that offended me, it was the image. You're not the first to see bipolar this way, and you're certainly not the last.

One thing I was thinking a bit about after I logged off - why did you choose such an unsettling, invasive and frightening looking pose, and a dark hoodie? The image seems scary to me, but not so much frightening for the character, but rather for the audience. There seems to be more of a maniacal quality here, and frankly, the image says "unstable psycho" to me than a respectful depiction of the the bipolar condition. I dare even say, I wouldn't be surprised if he were carrying a butcher knife behind his back.

Perhaps again this goes back to whose viewpoint the image is being taken from. I understand spending time with inpatient schizoaffectives might be pretty intense at times, even frightening. But as an overall perspective on the condition, it seems a stigmatizing portrayal. If this is a reflection of your own feelings towered the disease as someone who does not understand it, it might be more effective, though at the same time the image itself might not necessarily convey that intent.

 

[lennon33x]

And I agree. Apologies are definitely not needed. To the OP: it is not YOU that offended me, it was the image. You're not the first to see bipolar this way, and you're certainly not the last.

One thing I was thinking a bit about after I logged off - why did you choose such an unsettling, invasive and frightening looking pose, and a dark hoodie? The image seems scary to me, but not so much frightening for the character, but rather for the audience. There seems to be more of a maniacal quality here, and frankly, the image says "unstable psycho" to me than a respectful depiction of the the bipolar condition. I dare even say, I wouldn't be surprised if he were carrying a butcher knife behind his back.

Perhaps again this goes back to whose viewpoint the image is being taken from. I understand spending time with inpatient schizoaffectives might be pretty intense at times, even frightening. But as an overall perspective on the condition, it seems a stigmatizing portrayal. If this is a reflection of your own feelings towered the disease as someone who does not understand it, it might be more effective, though at the same time the image itself might not necessarily convey that intent.

The subject is just a person. The makeup and clothing choice was geared toward a seclusionary factor - meaning a result of the conflict. The facial expressions and colors are meant to show the contrast between the two phases. Not that they're opposite, but that they are not the same. My point in showing angst is to connect with the viewer to evoke the emotion - that push and pull of the two sides.

 

[pjaye]

No apologies necessary. And I think this was a very good discussion. It took me a long time to tell people close to me that I was bipolar, and over time, I'm getting better at telling people. Because even being friends with someone who is bipolar is HARD. I've lost many friendships because of this mental illness. So they needed to know, to know that sometimes, it's not *me* pushing them away.

 

[Rick58]

Although I do not, someone very close to me has BP, so I am subject to it's symptoms' on a daily basis. For someone in my shoes, it's like living on a roller coaster that never stops, and even being this close, I still can't say I know what it's like, because I can't even begin to imagine.

 

[kathyt]

If your image is what you took away from your experience then it is what it is. There are many facets of bi-polar, and there is not a one size fits all representation. There might be some similar characteristics on the surface, but that would be very hard to express in an image.
p.s. Good luck with the rest of nursing school.

 

[unpopular]

The subject is just a person. The makeup and clothing choice was geared toward a seclusionary factor - meaning a result of the conflict. The facial expressions and colors are meant to show the contrast between the two phases. Not that they're opposite, but that they are not the same. My point in showing angst is to connect with the viewer to evoke the emotion - that push and pull of the two sides.

You seem to have a better understanding than the image gives you credit. There really is a clear "opposition" quality here, and if you were trying to go for the "not opposite but not the same" I am not sure it really works, and strongly comes off as a cliche instead.

This aspect though is a really hard thing to explain, because really mania and depression are not at all on the spectrum of emotions. I'd never confuse mania for elation, nor depression for sadness. At the same time, I can clearly see a opposite sort of quality to sadness and happiness, the same is not entirely true of mania and depression. It's like they are two sides of the same coin, both are 'familiar' to one another, but not to the rest of the gamut of emotions that I share with others.

It's hard enough to describe for me.

I very much don't get the seclusion from this image. It's too tight and too aggressively posed; the model clearly is interacting with the audience. I think I know what you're talking about, but I think it's more of an isolation or feeling misplaced. This is frequently described as a feeling of being "wired differently" to others,. I certainly understand this. It's not that I don't understand people as you might expect from autism spectrum, in fact, I often find people predictable and dull - especially so when I am not in remission. Again, it's hard to explain, but I really don't get that (or anything near it) from this image.

From my own experience, I don't feel a "push and pull", it's more like a wave. I don't feel like a leaf being tossed around in an emotional whirlwind and the transition is more subtle than the stereotypical mood swings of a teenager. Symptoms intertwine, it's more of an ebb and flow than a sudden jerk. I am unsure if this is what others experience, but the starkness in your image seems inappropriate to mine and is why it doesn't "click" with me. Naturally others might differ - especially of so-called "rapid cyclers" - which in my opinion, I don't really think exist, at least not as a result of bipolar neurology ... but that's a topic for another forum.

But just as I said of your photograph, we can only relate what we know. I don't mean to speak for the entire bipolar experience, and I apologize if I come across that way.

Regardless, I hope this helps...

 

[minicoop1985]

The subject is just a person. The makeup and clothing choice was geared toward a seclusionary factor - meaning a result of the conflict. The facial expressions and colors are meant to show the contrast between the two phases. Not that they're opposite, but that they are not the same. My point in showing angst is to connect with the viewer to evoke the emotion - that push and pull of the two sides.

You seem to have a better understanding than the image gives you credit. There really is a clear "opposition" quality here, and if you were trying to go for the "not opposite but not the same" I am not sure it really works, and strongly comes off as a cliche instead.

This aspect though is a really hard thing to explain, because really mania and depression are not at all on the spectrum of emotions. I'd never confuse mania for elation, nor depression for sadness. At the same time, I can clearly see a opposite sort of quality to sadness and happiness, the same is not entirely true of mania and depression. It's like they are two sides of the same coin, both are 'familiar' to one another, but not to the rest of the gamut of emotions that I share with others.

It's hard enough to describe for me.

I very much don't get the seclusion from this image. It's too tight and too aggressively posed; the model clearly is interacting with the audience. I think I know what you're talking about, but I think it's more of an isolation or feeling misplaced. This is frequently described as a feeling of being "wired differently" to others,. I certainly understand this. It's not that I don't understand people as you might expect from autism spectrum, in fact, I often find people predictable and dull - especially so when I am not in remission. Again, it's hard to explain, but I really don't get that (or anything near it) from this image.

From my own experience, I don't feel a "push and pull", it's more like a wave. I don't feel like a leaf being tossed around in an emotional whirlwind and the transition is more subtle than the stereotypical mood swings of a teenager. Symptoms intertwine, it's more of an ebb and flow than a sudden jerk. I am unsure if this is what others experience, but the starkness in your image seems inappropriate to mine and is why it doesn't "click" with me. Naturally others might differ - especially of so-called "rapid cyclers" - which in my opinion, I don't really think exist, at least not as a result of bipolar neurology ... but that's a topic for another forum.

But just as I said of your photograph, we can only relate what we know. I don't mean to speak for the entire bipolar experience, and I apologize if I come across that way.

Regardless, I hope this helps...

I appreciate that you understand that all of our bipolar experiences are very, very different. I also like what you said earlier about taking responsibility for actions, even if they weren't intended-this is something I've struggled with quite a bit in the past.

I know a "rapid-cycler," but really, I don't think it's bipolar so much as it is something completely different.

For me, it's not so much like the push and pull. It's very systematic and season dependent. Summertime sees longer hypomanic episodes, while winter sees longer depressive episodes. The vast majority of my suicidal periods were during fall and winter. Now that I'm on meds, it's not like true depressive or hypomanic states-it's more like short ish cycles of energy levels.

For me, there's so much that goes into this that I don't know if one photo CAN possibly represent the whole bipolar experience of even one individual, but I applaud the effort. It makes sense to me, but despite the name, it's more than two sides of a coin. Perhaps if the photo could be done as a gradient, that would make more sense to me, but again, I think the layperson won't get that.

 

[pjaye]

Because my kobo just flips out when I use the quote feature, I just want to say I agree with the two last two very well written posts.

 

[Gavjenks]

I get what you're saying. I plan to do one of schizophrenia and one of schizoaffective disorder. Those will be much more complicated. But, I will probably go more along the lines of The Joker with the white face

The best art-based depiction of schizophrenia I have seen is from a guy who liked to draw sort of realistic kitschy portraits of cats, from before he started showing symptoms at all, and then he kept painting as it got worse, and you can see the progression:

http://www.schizophrenia.com/pam/archives/misterimente1.jpg

 

[minicoop1985]

I don't want to get into the subject matter because I don't know enough to have a valid comment.

I really, really wish more people thought this way. Seemingly everyone has an opinion on my life with it. I've been told some rather outrageous things from the least aware people, like I'm unfit to be a parent. Really, thanks, I totally appreciate that, random person I've never met before. Your opinion has been filed with things like "poops I've recently taken" and "memories of vomiting after surgery."