Bipolar in the media

Diseases & Conditions Bipolar Disorder
1
Hello I'm new.  I'm 18 and have been diagnosed since I was 14. I am finally stable after years of trying almost every med approved for treatment of bipolar disorder. However, I've been really upset with the recent child molestation case of Debra Lafave.  She has been claiming that it was because of her bipolar disorder that she had sex with a 14 year old boy.  Now, I've had clouded judgement in my ups and downs, but never have felt that I would have sex with a minor. I'm doing a report for a current issues class on this event and would appreciate hearing your thoughts and feelings about this.  Thank you all.
2
Wow! I have never heard of this case. It does seem rather blameful like she is making excuses to cover up. I know that being hypersexual is a part of being bipolar and that can manifest itself in many ways...but I don't think being a pedifile counts as one. Pediphila is a whole other disorder. I wish you luck with the report and I hope you can find the info you need!
3

Hi blinkfloyd,  Welcome to Healing Well forum.

I agree with Ashley and what she has posted 100%.  I have followed that particular case and the other women just recently that have been in the media for molesting their students.  Debra LaFave has recently received the diagnosis of BP and I believe that it was just a convenient excuse to shift blame off of herself or to explain it away.  She is getting off rather lightly and that judgement was made before they announced that she had Bipolar.  Perhaps trying to repair a damaged reputation?  Who knows... But I think that regardless of how the family of the child feels about it these women who are preying on minors should have the exact same punishment that a man would get should he be in that position.  And you know he wouldn't have gotten off with 3 years house arrest and 7yrs probation...he would be sitting in prison.  Exactly where she belongs in my opinion.

 

~elisha~ 
 
ways to help support healing well:
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4
 
 
As if us bp patients don't have enough stigmas and judgements passed on us already!?!  I hate when things like this arise in the media b/c it's so unexplained to the public...I too have followed this case, and there is no way this woman comitted this crime due to her "bipolar" illness.  The fact remains that her diagnosis was so recent anyway, which totally implicates that she's just using this as an excuse.
 
I don't know about anyone else, but lately the worst part about this illness is that we are so judged, SO JUDGED.
 
I am so glad that you've decided to research this issue and bring it towards your class, I wish you much luck.  My only advise would be just to try and find as many expert opinions on her case that support/ or don't support what she is "stating" as her defense.
 
mogli
5
I agree with Els that she should have been charged as equally as a man! Gender should have nothing to do with punishing crime! I also agree with you mogli that we are judged because of our illness. Alot of people think we are crazy. Although we may feel crazy at times...to me it is no other different thatn any other mental or physical illness, we are not well and we take meds and therapy to become as well as possible. One of my most frustrating experiences with others has been them not believing that I have the disorder. Most of the outside people that don't really "know" me as in around me often has not seen all of my sides. When I was first diagnosed it was very hard to get some of my so called "friends" to be there for me--some even asked if I was misdiagnosed. It really hurts when people don't see our hurt that we are suffering inside and under or over estimate our illness!
6
I have to agree with mogli and in reading this, the first scary thought that I come up with is "stereotyping". What happens when the next gal who truly lives with bipolar wants to get a teaching position in that school? Will they hire her or will they now have a justifiable reason to discriminate agaiinst us with bipolar? This woman has done more harm than she knows and I am sure even cares about. She needs to be locked up until menapause.

 
American by birth, Northerner by the grace of God.
The South didn't lose, they gave up ...
Proud to be a West Virginia Yankee.

7

I agree that she should be in prison because she commited a crime with a miner child. 

However, in regards to informing potential employers of a mental illness I would strongly recommend against this.  No matter if it is Bipolar, Depression, Schizophrenia, or Seasonal Affective Disorder.  For one thing it is none of there business.  And secondly unfortunately people are discriminated against when you apply for a job.   No matter what it says printed at the bottom of the applications of not doing so based on race, sex, religion, etc...

 


~elisha~ 
 
ways to help support healing well:
http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=19&m=437927
 
 

8

i agree with els on the not imforming your employers thing...i have now lost a total of 3 jobs b/c of that

now i am finally in a job that i love and i am keeping my mouth shut, which is pretty ridiculous to have to do that

but there we go again with all of the stupid and totally ignorant judements!

mogli

9

I agree you shouldn't have to feel like it is some deep dark secret or your being judged if you do tell someone.  But figure people who are different have always been judged, most likely since time begin.  It doesn't matter if your a different race, size, have a physical deformity or a mental illness someone is always judging.  It doesn't make it right cause it isn't but we cant control it.  All we can do is make sure we are better then that and don't do it to other people.

My boyfriend when he was looking for a job it took him like 9 months to get one.  I couldn't understand what the problem was.  Then he finally told me that he was telling these people when he went to interviews that the reason he didn't work for over a year was because he has Bipolar and is on medication.  I had to tell him to quit telling them that, they don't know to know that, and guess what he ended up getting a job.

 

~elisha~ 
 
ways to help support healing well:
 
 

10
But what do you do on the application? I've filled out two. And both specifically ask - any physical or mentall illnesses. Do I lie.? But they'll know as soon as you have to take time off to go to a pdoc appt. And forget making moeny by babysitting the neighbors' kids, I might as well have leprosy.

 
American by birth, Northerner by the grace of God.
The South didn't lose, they gave up ...
Proud to be a West Virginia Yankee.

11
I can't help but enjoy these topic's, because they allow some of us to vent a little,

Anyone taking advantage of any one, in any circumstance is abuse, Our court Systems fail us way too often, a good lawyer, who's mates with a good Psychiatrist, and hey, youve got anything you want to get off, if we try going to social security with bags of proof, often we'll get shoved out the door,
As for the Media, well i don't believe they have told the whole truth about anything have they, unless it makes them a profit.
Abuse, no excuses, simple
12

I completely agree with you brownleaf.  I don't agree the situation or the punishment being different because the victim was a boy instead of a girl.  The laws it seems they have many shades of grey and are used to great advantage in favor on judges and lawyers benefits at the time. 

wv yankee, The employment laws are a federal statue.   The government does allow some leeway with employers in respect to the fact that they can alter or come up with their own job applications but they do still have to follow the laws and they have to have the nondiscrimination disclaimer printer on their apps.  If you do fill out one that asks if you have a physical or mental handicap then you can mark "NO" as this is really pertaining to the physically handicapped and the people who have like downs syndrome or mild mental retardation and such illnesses.  However, employees still have to be very careful when questioning about this.  So don't feel like your lying about not disclosing bipolar or any other related illness.  I found the following site that you can take a look at.....

http://www.quizlaw.com/hremployment_law/what_is_disability_discrimin.php

 

~elisha~ 
 
ways to help support healing well:
 
 

Post Edited (els) : 4/8/2006 6:26:43 AM (GMT-6)