The%20Liberatory%20Deconstruction%20of%20the%20Bipolar%20Impaired%20Self

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The Liberatory Deconstructionof the Bipolar
Impaired Self
Facing another day

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An exploration of the psycho-emotional
dimensions of disability is long overdue
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The social model of disability should be
extended to include social processes
and practices which undermine the emotional
well-being of people with impairments.
(Reeve, 2002)
Reeve, D. (2002) Negotiating psycho-emotional
dimensions of disability and their
influence on identity construction. Disability
Society. 17, 493-508.
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Fertile ground was broken for exploration of
the psycho- emotional dimensions of
disability.
My images on the Serendip website outed the
inner turmoil of the impaired self.
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Professor Paul Grobstein Founder Serendip Bryn
Mawr College
Narrative is determined not by a desire to
narrate but a desire to exchange. - (Rolad
Barthes, S/Z)
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The process
Readers commented on my images
and narratives.
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Patterns emerged in the narratives and the
dialogues
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There were descriptions of feelings, talk of
identity, allusion to societal gaze, and
integration of bipolar characteristics and the
emancipated self.
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What follows are examples from Serendip web
pages My visual and written reflections and
reader comments.
The underscored words relate to
feelings, identity, stigma, and integration and
emancipation of the bipolar self.
All would become the basis of my 5 Phase Model
for the Emancipation of the Bipolar Impaired Self.
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My life is a room in which I dwell. It's been
beaten down, battered and tattered. I do leave
the premises and enjoy the outside world, but I
only stay out so long. Then I return home where
it's familiar, comfortable, albeit sometimes
unbearable..
There is some light coming through the
window, perhaps a sliver of hope amidst chaos.
There is a sense of isolation in a world of
chaos, but there is someone watching
over. Submitted by Sophie
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At their worst, neurological and mental disorders
can make you feel like youve been stripped of
your authentic self and replaced by a mere
shadowof your shadow. When it gets this bad, it
can feel as though I inherited my genes from
someone outside my real family. .
This picture makes me aware of the social stigma
surrounding mental illness. You are bad if you
have one Submitted by Ryan
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If you knew me personally, you probably wouldnt
see me as impaired as I sometimes feel. I dont
appear crazy, but sometimes I have crazy ideas
that can often be reframed as creative or
epiphanies from the absolute. Ideas that are
actually appreciated or admired by others.
An understanding and an acceptance of the self,
and a realization that there are others out there
with whom community is possible. However at the
same time a sense of dissatisfaction, a
sense that the author knows he is being judged by
the normal community Submitted by k
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my inner eye sees the world differently than
does my outer eye. Its a different kind of
observation and vision--more sensitive, intuitive
and perceptive. People see my outer eye and if
they look closely enough, they may see my inner
one as well. And then sometimes its hard to tell
the difference.
When any part of yourself is hidden
or unacknowledged the whole self is limited
in every way. Self-acceptance means not
only acknowledging the less desirable parts
but also allowing every aspect of the self
to realize its full potential. Submitted by A
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not all disabilities are obvious. Which is more
problematic When your disabilities are hidden
from those around you or when theyre hidden
from yourself?
We all have shortcomings, but our ultimate
purpose in life is to reach self- awareness...
i.e., to acknowledge where and what we would like
to improve/ better about our self, and go about
making/ facilitating this change. This
(according to Maslows hierarchy of needs),
refers to trying to attain self-actualization. Su
bmitted by A
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Laura Kerr explores the use of patient education
and presenting psychical pain as disease (as
opposed to personal weakness) to dispel stigma
so that individuals might seek medical
attention for bipolar disorder.
However, Kerr finds that being labeled ill can
make one feel the stigma of being defective,
which paradoxically can then cause the
individual to avoid seeking medical attention.
Kerr, L (2001).Foucault and the care of self
Educating for moral action and mental illness.
Philosophy of Education.
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Kerr states, Undeniably, psychiatry is
the standard to which other explanations
and treatments of the depression and mania are
compared.
Indeed, it is extraordinarily difficult, and
exceedingly frustrating to speak of mania and
depression as anything but pathologies and
disease states.
Kerr, L (2001). Foucault and the care of self
Educating for moral action and mental
illness. Philosophy of Education.
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No its not.
Positing The 5-Stage Liberatory Deconstruction of
the Bipolar Impaired Self
An alternative discourse to psychiatry for
addressing Bipolar Disorder.
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This 5 Phase social
model facilitates the emancipation
of the bipolar impaired self

as opposed to psychiatrys medical
model of healing the sick
mind.
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Deconstructing the Title
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The Liberatory Deconstruction of the Bipolar
Impaired Self
Lib-er-a-tor-y

• 1. To set free, as from oppression,
• confinement or foreign control.
• To free someone from social
• prejudices.

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The Liberatory Deconstruction of the Bipolar
Impaired Self
De-con-struc-tion

• Critically focusing on how
• situations in everyday life
• pass as assumed truths
• alternative ways of looking
• at situations can reveal a
• hierarchy of power and
• alternative truths,
• enabling a restructuring
• for social (or personal) change.
• To break down into component
• parts for analysis.

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The Liberatory Deconstruction of the Bipolar
Impaired Self
Bi-po-lar

• A psychiatric diagnosis marked by
• by alternating periods of mania
• and depression.
• A brain disorder that causes
• unusual shifts in mood, energy
• and ability to function.

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The Liberatory Deconstruction of the Bipolar
Impaired Self
Im-paired

• Having been diminished as in
• strength, value or quality.
• Damage or weakening of
• physiological, psychological
• or anatomical function
• or structure.

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The Liberatory Deconstruction of the Bipolar
Impaired Self
Self

• A bodily felt sense of who one is,
• distinct from others.
• The agent responsible for the
• thoughts, feelings and actions
• of an individual.

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Narrative Images The Liberatory Deconstruction
of the Bipolar Impaired Self
Im not quite sure I get it.
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Think of this concept starting as Humpty
Dumpty having been lulled into seeing himself
as nothing more than an expendable food item
with an imperfect shell. Lets call it bipolar
disorder.
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However, through Humptys introspection and
dialogue (through his narrative images) he has
been able to discover his inner egg, understand
his imposed limitations within a social context,
recognize his strengths, become a more
effective self-advocate, and experience the
viable nature of his unimpaired identity and
self.
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The person is not the problem. The problem is the
problem.
M. Foucault
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And what is the problem?
Bipolar characteristics and the self are not
integrated.
The bipolar impaired self is not emancipated.
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How can bipolar characteristics become
integrated with the self and the bipolar
self become emancipated?
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Through The 5 Phases of
The Liberatory Deconstruction of
the Bipolar Impaired
Self
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Phase 1
Exploring Feelings Relating To Bipolar Disorder
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Phase 2
Exploring Personal Identity Related to Bipolar
Disorder
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Phase 3
Exploring the Social Gaze and Stigma Related to
Bipolar Disorder
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Phase 4
Integrating Bipolar Characteristics and the
Self
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Phase 5
Emancipation of the Bipolar Impaired Self
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Exploring Feelings Relating to Bipolar
Disorder.
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Phase Exploring Feelings
Relating 1 to
Bipolar Disorder - depression
- anxiety -
sadness -
agitation -
lethargy -
frustration - insecurity - inadequacy
- burdensome - hopelessness
- hyperactive

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Phase Exploring Feelings
Relating 1 to
Bipolar Disorder Cont. - embarrassment
- shame
- envy - fear -
pessimism - confusion - inferiority -
helplessness - out of control
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Exploring Identity of Bipolar Disorder.

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Phase Exploring Identity
2 of Bipolar
Disorder - confrontation of impaired
self - dys-appearance of impaired self -
normal-ization
- condescension
- passing disclosing

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Phase Exploring Identity
2 of Bipolar
Disorder Cont. - fear of being exposed
- information
control -
undesired differentness - low self
esteem/concept/efficacy - BPD community
attachment -
need to be cured

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Exploring the Social Gaze and Stigma
of Bipolar Disorder.

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Phase Exploring the Social
Gaze and 3 Stigma
of Bipolar Disorder
- employment
restrictions - custody restrictions
- insurance restrictions
- stereotyping
- labels - pejorative comments
- social
exclusion - undesired
differentness - infantilizing -
generalizing - judging

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Integrating Bipolar
Characteristics and the Self

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Phase Integrating Bipolar
4 Characteristics and
the Self - exploring feelings, identity,
social gaze
and stigma
related to bipolar disorder - social model
of disabilities - environment specific -
labeling/medical descriptors
- normal/neurodiver
se
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Phase Integrating Bipolar
4 Characteristics and
the Self Cont. - successes
- culture and world view
-
autobiographical memory
(for trauma-related
impairment) - embracing ones
bipolar
characteristics - practicing assertiveness
- universality of feelings
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Emancipation of the Bipolar Impaired Self.

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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Impaired
Self Definition of Emancipation
- to free from
restraint,
power or control of another - to free
from any controlling
influence - free from
traditional social constraints
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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Impaired
Self Cont. Self-Actualization
intrinsic growth of
what is
already in the organism, or more accurately
of what is the organism itself
self-actualization is growth-motivated...

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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Impaired
Self Cont. Positive Self-Regard
People have a need to
view themselves positively. This is
easily the most common and consensually
endorsed assumption in research on the
self.positive self-regard is
thought by many to be
essential for achieving
mental health.
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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Impaired
Self Cont. Self-Advocacy
- understanding your
strengths
and needs - identifying your
personal goals - knowing your legal
rights
and responsibilities - communicating these
to others
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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Impaired
Self Cont. Self-Advocacy,
Cont. -
making life decisions without
undue influence from
others - being in charge of your
own care in the medical system -
take a more active role in
your own care -
assertively communicating
these to others
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Phase Emancipation of the
5 Bipolar Self
Cont. Self-Advocacy, Cont.
- increase self-esteem
and
self-confidence - increase
independence - break the stigma of
dependency on others
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The Result The bipolar impaired self becomes
the self
integrated with legitimate bipolar
characteristics.
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Research Questions
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Q
If a positive integration between the self and
bipolar impairment can be formed, is there a
potential for generalizing the ability of the
self to positively integrate with other types of
impairments?
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Q
Can a positive integration between
bipolar impairment and ones self be attained
across age of onset, comorbidity, duration
and intensity of the bipolar impairment?

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Q
Can a positive integration between
bipolar impairment and ones self help to inform
the development of humane psychiatric-related
disability policies?
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http//serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/
Special thanks to Professor Paul Grobstein
Eleanor A. Bliss Professor of Biology
Department of Biology
Bryn Mawr College
Founder of Serendip Exploratory Website
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Much Gratitude to Serendip Website
Visitors Your comments and
insights on my images are invaluable
to expanding my knowledge base on the
Self, Impairment
and Society.
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David A. Feingold
DEE National-Louis University
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End