As I've talked about before, I have bipolar disorder. I haven't chosen to have this illness and I do everything I can to try and minimise the effect it has on me and my family. I take my medications at the right times and attend all of my appointments.
Some days I'm like any other person and that's great, that's the goal I aim for. Unfortunately I have no control over what mood phase I will go through just as you don't have control over the weather.
Darren left work earlier in the year to become my full time carer. I'm not going into how much Darren does for me or the family as I'm not going to try and justify the fact he needs to be at home. It wasn't a lifestyle choice for Darren to leave work and for us to be on benefits as a result and I'm writing this blog post to explain my shock at the misunderstanding and judgement people pass on us daily.
Some seem to think that living on benefits you have lots of money and can afford luxuries. That isn't the case. We struggle just as much as everybody else to make sure there is food on the table, gas/electric/water is paid, our car being kept on the road with fuel in. We have to plan ahead for christmas and birthdays just as we always have. We have enough money coming in to survive, not to splurge out on shopping sprees.
We don't sit around all day everyday drinking, smoking and watching Jeremy kyle. When I'm unwell I'm unable to do much if anything. I struggle to leave my bed or the sofa let alone the house. The pressure on Darren is immense at times and work would be an easier option for him, but not an option he can take at present.
Bipolar is an illness that is inside, you can't see the daily torture it can bring to the person and people around them.
Before judging people on benefits, someone who is unwell with an illness that isn't visible or carer, think again. They haven't chosen the path they are following. They are probably secretly struggling and don't need judgements added to their daily issues.
