Violence

A mass shooting, a high profile murder case, a bizarre crime - you'll hear them say it nearly every time. They will blame mental illness - most often bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

I agree, the mentally ill should not have access to weapons, especially guns. But the reason I say that isn't that I fear the next mass shooting. Someone suffering from a mental illness is far more likely to harm THEMSELVES than anyone else. Suicide is a HUGE risk, and access to a gun is a risk not worth taking.

Of my two most prominent mental illnesses, bipolar disorder and ADHD, the one more closely associated with crime is not bipolar, it is actually the ADHD. ADHD is associated with lowered inhibitions, impulsive behavior, aggression, hostility, and loud and obnoxious behavior. That's a bad mix when impulses lead to criminal behavioral, and interactions with law enforcement may not go well. The mentally ill, meanwhile, are far more likely to be the victim than the perpetrator.

You hear it though. "This isn't about guns, it's about mental illness" becomes a mantra. But the widely held belief that mental illness is linked to violent crime just isn't true. High profile violent crimes have many precipitating factors, and to say that the ONLY problem is the mental health system is ignorant.

Are there mentally ill individuals who commit violent crimes? Yes. But only a very tiny percentage of the mentally ill are violent, and many of those who are violent commit crimes for reasons unrelated to their mental illness. Poverty, childhood trauma, and abusing drugs and alcohol are much more related to crime than bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are. Most criminals are not mentally ill, and most of the mentally ill are not likely to commit a crime.

A lot of the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder stems from the media's portrayal of the mentally ill. Many people with Bipolar Disorder are hesitant to talk about their illness out of fear. The worry - that people will judge you, fear you, lose any faith or trust in you - can be overwhelming.

I think about it sometimes. Do people see me as fragile? Do they think I am a ticking time bomb? Do they believe that it's only a matter of time until I become violent and out of control? Do they see me as only a "crazy person"?

I seriously hope not.

I am a father, a husband. I am a supportive friend, and a reliable coworker. I go to work, I come home, I go to my kid's school events, I hang out with my family and friends. I am many things. I don't want my illness to define me.

I started this blog to discuss my mental illness and share my struggles with others. I hope that this blog hasn't made people think of me as a poster child for "crazy" and nothing else.

The mentally ill aren't terrifying monsters. The mentally ill are just everyday people, trying to get through life the same as everybody else. We aren't ticking time bombs, ready to blow any second without warning. Yes, we have our struggles, and they may seen foreign and bizarre to "normal" people. Yes, we can feel unstable and unpredictable. But we are far more likely to hurt ourselves than to hurt others. We are far more likely to be a victim than to be the perpetrator.

It's not just the news, either. Crime shows and police procedurals often portray the mentally ill as violent and dangerous criminals. Movies and television buy into the same false beliefs, continuing the false correlation between violence and mental illness.

Please, if you see this just plain wrong belief in action, point out to others the untruths surrounding this belief. Challenge the stigma of mental illness. Change the way others see us, whenever and wherever you can.