The sixth 80/20 theme I would like to comment on is communicating about your illness. Since mental illness has stigma attached to it, this decision can be much more complicated than it would be with a physical illness. For that reason, I must encourage you to come to your own conclusions – after seeking advice from family, close friends and your doctor – as to what is best for you. I can only share my experience, with the hope that it may help you with yours.

As I first began to experience symptoms of bipolar disorder, I fell deeply into the trap of self-stigma. I guarded my ‘secret’ as a very private matter and refused to tell anyone beyond those very close to me. It was only after I had taken 2 leaves of absence from my work and lived nearly 2 years with symptoms that I learned a different way to deal with my illness.

It struck me that I had experienced a failure in the function of a major organ before – my heart once required open heart surgery to correct a birth defect. I was 12 at the time of the surgery, and there was no secrecy surrounding my condition. When it was appropriate, those who needed or wanted to know were informed while the rest weren’t.

Since bipolar is a malfunction in my brain chemistry, why should I treat this condition any differently? I realized the only difference was rooted in social stigma, which in itself is rooted in ignorance. I chose to resist by acting in exactly the same way about my bipolar as I would if my heart condition were to return. That meant that many more people in my life, including some colleagues and superiors at my work, were informed in an open and honest way.

For me, this strategy has proven to be very positive. It has helped me to step out from the shadow of stigma that society places on all mental illness sufferers. More importantly, it has helped me to step out from the shadow of my own stigma.

Be well,
Jason Finucan