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[claragold]

I have a dilemma: my recent creative work (I’m a fiction writer) reveals my disability, bipolar disorder, as well as a history of state mental hospitalization as an adolescent.  I’m about to enter a grad program, and my first story from this longer piece of work is about to be published, along with an interview about the autobiographical connections.  I’m beginning to worry that what began as a liberating process of attacking mental illness stigma through accurate, sophisticated portrayals of the mentally ill will actually a) dramatically increase stigmatization toward me b) induce greater self-stigmatization on my own behalf and c) jeopardize my future on the job market.

I think it's hard to generalize how much your disclosure will increase stigmatization towards you, because it will all depend later on where you try to apply. I think there is no way we can say all departments act the same way with this kind of issue. There is a lot of ignorance and stigmatization about all kinds of mental illnesses, perhaps the only one that has been quite accepted is depression (although now, it's almost turned into the opposite problem, just about everything gets labeled "being depressed.")

I think your concern about the job market is appropriate, the job market is highly competitive so that's just something you will have to face. On the other hand, you may not want to be in a department which is so steep in stigmatizing and insulting others with such a disability. And as this Chronicle fora shows, there's plenty of ignorance and crude behavior among academics.  (responses like "get over it" come to mind, I don't know where I've seen that before...)

I think, though, from the little you posted, that your decision to publish will be liberating in many ways for you emotionally. However, if this step that was premature, maybe you should rethink it if it's still possible. Nevertheless, it sounds like it would be more liberating for you to go on with the publishing and later try to find a job (in academia or not) that will support you with your issues and allow you to grow and thrive as best as possible.

[mfaer]

I have noticed that mental illness is more accepted in the creative arts because we are, well, assumed to be unhinged.  That being said, bipolar is fairly common and you might think of being a role model for your students, if you choose to disclose.

That's true about the arts, and you're right about your assumption that I would like to be a role model for my students regarding this matter. 

I also agree with you and others about DS--lots of exciting stuff, though I still have a lot of catching up to do in the field.

I'm interested in how stigma is shaped through literature and film, and am thinking about intersecting narrative theory with disability studies to explore how/why mental illness stigma is shaped/conveyed via artistic texts.  If you (or anyone else) can recommend literature on this particular topic, that would be great! I've read Otto Wahl's "Media Madness."

[mfaer]

I have a dilemma: my recent creative work (I’m a fiction writer) reveals my disability, bipolar disorder, as well as a history of state mental hospitalization as an adolescent.  I’m about to enter a grad program, and my first story from this longer piece of work is about to be published, along with an interview about the autobiographical connections.  I’m beginning to worry that what began as a liberating process of attacking mental illness stigma through accurate, sophisticated portrayals of the mentally ill will actually a) dramatically increase stigmatization toward me b) induce greater self-stigmatization on my own behalf and c) jeopardize my future on the job market.

I think it's hard to generalize how much your disclosure will increase stigmatization towards you, because it will all depend later on where you try to apply. I think there is no way we can say all departments act the same way with this kind of issue. There is a lot of ignorance and stigmatization about all kinds of mental illnesses, perhaps the only one that has been quite accepted is depression (although now, it's almost turned into the opposite problem, just about everything gets labeled "being depressed.")

I think your concern about the job market is appropriate, the job market is highly competitive so that's just something you will have to face. On the other hand, you may not want to be in a department which is so steep in stigmatizing and insulting others with such a disability. And as this Chronicle fora shows, there's plenty of ignorance and crude behavior among academics.  (responses like "get over it" come to mind, I don't know where I've seen that before...)

I think, though, from the little you posted, that your decision to publish will be liberating in many ways for you emotionally. However, if this step that was premature, maybe you should rethink it if it's still possible. Nevertheless, it sounds like it would be more liberating for you to go on with the publishing and later try to find a job (in academia or not) that will support you with your issues and allow you to grow and thrive as best as possible.

Yeah, I’ve been told to “get over it” numerous times.  If it were that easy, I would’ve “gotten over it” a long time ago instead of going several days without sleep for no apparent reason, or cutting family members and friends out of my life for no apparent reason.  Really, though, it’s all just one giant character flaw that I need to “get over," like a runny nose.  Sigh…I better stop it though, before someone accuses me of “feeling sorry for myself.”


Anyway, thank you for your helpful response! I'm going to go ahead with publishing this particular piece, and--in the future--look for a job in a disabilities-friendly environment.

[prytania3]

Yeah, I’ve been told to “get over it” numerous times.  If it were that easy, I would’ve “gotten over it” a long time ago instead of going several days without sleep for no apparent reason, or cutting family members and friends out of my life for no apparent reason.  Really, though, it’s all just one giant character flaw that I need to “get over," like a runny nose.  Sigh…I better stop it though, before someone accuses me of “feeling sorry for myself.”

Well, aren't you feeling sorry for yourself?

Also rule #1. If you don't want people to know something, don't publish it in a book.

Rule #2. If you should decide to publish a book with confidential information in it, then don't worry about it. Whats' that going to accomplish?

Anyway, thank you for your helpful response! I'm going to go ahead with publishing this particular piece, and--in the future--look for a job in a disabilities-friendly environment.

[mfaer]

Unbelievable.

[neutralname]

Yet unsurprising. 

[patchouli]

Mfaer,

Where I work there is someone whom we all respect very much who has shared with us that he is being treated for serious, recurring depression; it has not altered our respect for him in the least. 

It also bodes well that you have the courage to write about your illness openly which allows others to gain from your experience, too.  I have a friend who was/is bipolar and struggled with it for years, due to several horrible misdiagnoses, but now that he is correctly diagnosed and properly treated, he is living a productive life. 

We are in a time where mental illness is being regarded as just that, an illness, and just like other illnesses, has treatment. Similar to some chronic physical illnesses, it is not necessarily gotten over as much as it is managed, and that is the message that needs to be spread--that one can live a full and productive life with treatment.  Writing about it and speaking about it lessens the marginalization of others who suffer with it and you are helping to erase that old stigma.

But Claragold is right, it will be tougher on some campuses for you than others, but as she also mentioned, this may be liberating and necessary for you to write about and share, and it will help others, and it may even direct you to a path you were not thinking of traveling originally.

I wish you the best.

[mfaer]

^Thank you for sharing your thoughts on "the good and the bad." I've enjoyed reading the many insightful perspectives on this thread on how this issue is manifested within academia.  I have an MFA (as one can tell from my handle), so I've done some time in grad school, but have only "disclosed” recently.  Hopefully these perspectives give me an idea of what to expect in the future. Thanks again everyone.

[rupert_pupkin]

Yeah, I’ve been told to “get over it” numerous times.  If it were that easy, I would’ve “gotten over it” a long time ago instead of going several days without sleep for no apparent reason, or cutting family members and friends out of my life for no apparent reason.  Really, though, it’s all just one giant character flaw that I need to “get over," like a runny nose.  Sigh…I better stop it though, before someone accuses me of “feeling sorry for myself.”

Well, aren't you feeling sorry for yourself?

Well, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

[. . .]

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bying,
But as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!