So Channel 4 did a documentary on "being bipolar". What a disappointing programme. Stephen Fry should have presented it.
Firstly, there doesn't have to be an emotional/ physical trigger for every person. Presenter Philippa Perry couldn't seem to grasp that fact. She seemed to be hoping for triggers- SHE EVEN BLAMED ONE PERSON'S BIPOLAR ON BEING AN ONLY CHILD. WHAT THE HELL. I quite liked when she said, "too often we ask what is wrong with someone rather than what has happened to them" though, but that is because mines was a trigger.
I found it a little annoying that they picked extreme people, and I don't feel that they showed each episode properly. I feel that "Being Bipolar" would have worked better if it was personal accounts from a number of people, talking in a diary format to a camera (there was a similar programme on BBC3 called "Diaries of a Broken Mind" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JEZzWN4krI ). It would have been more interesting and more fitting, instead of just following some woman trying to uncover childhood trauma and shame people who use pills to help stabilise themselves.
The presenter was surprised that medication didn't "cure" bipolar disorder. WELL NAH... IT'S A CHRONIC ILLNESS! Did she even do any research before she decided to make a documentary about it?! She didn't seem to want to listen and would rather justify her own view of bipolar disorder.
I want more documentaries about mental health, especially bipolar as I feel many people just think people switch to extreme sides and that's it. That is not it. The good thing about this programme is that more people are talking about it, perhaps not in the right way but maybe people will research it.
Here is what it should have been like; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXOImAaAFj8&feature=youtu.be&list=PLw8TLvRgeKJ4U0IbynSzUKojAIeL-EcZ2
I'm not sure if I have anything else to add, I'm quite angry.
