What does stigma mean to those contributing to society?: The Media Makes an Effort to Feed Bi-Polar Stigma....

What does stigma mean to those contributing to society?: The Media Makes an Effort to Feed Bi-Polar Stigma....: Each person has more to their personality than a single story. A human could not be human if he was a singleton. I am talking about a sing...

What does stigma mean to those contributing to society?: The Media Makes an Effort to Feed Bi-Polar Stigma....

 Each person has more to their personality than a single story. A human could not be human if he was a singleton. I am talking about...

The Media Makes an Effort to Feed Bi-Polar Stigma...

Each person has more to their personality than a single story. A human could not be human if he was a singleton. I am talking about a single story of being Bi-Polar. A person living with Bi-polar has a few moments of un-settlement, and a lot more moments of torture; twice as many Americans die by suicide than murder. Bi-polar does not define them. Bi-polar does not cause them to commit a crime. And, it certainly does not make them sex addicts.


Many people are robbed of their dignity each and every time a crime is committed. Why? Because the media assume this illness was at the crux of the explosive storm. We say we want stigma to be reduced in the mental health area, yet we are continually happy for the media to expose the person’s mental health each time a gruesome crime is committed.


Bipolar disorder, and especially its slightly less disabling form which is known as bipolar 2, is frequently found among successful, driven people (as well as millions of ordinary folk, of course). It is a fact that there are many people setting up the arts, medical, literature and political arena than people sitting in the Goal system. Yet, this fact is rarely publicised. We never read headlines that say, ‘Bi-Polar Brain Surgeon Saves Another Young Adult’ or ‘Bi-Polar Ballet Dancer Gets Standing Ovation at the Opera House’. But, day after day we read in big black letters, ‘Bi-Polar Woman kills her Children’, ‘Bi-Polar Man rapes’.


Thanks to google the world can be alarmed to know that Johnny Depp, Sheryl Crow, Halle Berry, Agatha Christie, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain, Drew Barrymore and Princess Dianna all suffered with depression or bi-polar. All these people and many more have never committed an act of gruesomeness, instead they have given us music, art, poetry, literature, adventure and fashion.


The high rates of substance use and abuse is one of the primary factors contributing to the high incarceration rate of the mentally ill. "The prevalence of serious mental health issues is higher among incarcerated individuals than in the general population, and is associated with specific sociodemographic characteristics like male gender, younger age, and non-white race. Severe psychopathology is also associated with higher recidivism and more serious criminal offenses," said Dr. Stathopoulou.


With the social media taking over our lives more rapidly than any other time in history, I have to wonder if this type of information is easily constructing how we think, and also reducing peoples thoughts at the very same time.


 Adrian Holliday says, ‘The weight of responsibility is on us to understand ourselves, rather than on essentialist categories of ‘them’. However, ‘Words’ carry a lot of power, and with technology coming at us faster than we are able to digest the information, is there any wonder we are not progressing past old ideas.


In our fast moving world I am going to ask, ‘is it the mental illness that is dividing us or is it language? Just as it was one hundred years ago (or less) with the colour of a person’s skin dividing us, is it the over use of technology language today? Stuart Hall talks about ‘Language is thus a great divider of people. As soon as people use language they are judged by the people who hear them as belonging to certain social groups, and the images and stereotypes that are attached to these groups may be invoked and applied to them’.


With the use of language we saw the feminist movement begin it’s powerful shift in the late 19th Century. It started with communication. It started with speaking out against what was not right and what needed to change. How did we change Lesbian and Gay rights? We changed it through communication, and again standing up for what is right.


  I spoke to many people about this story. They were not ready to have their names published. I am happy to mention my name, and I am bi-polar. I hold down relationships, add to society, help others, I am bright, intelligent, and I have never once been rude or day dreamed about committing a crime. Not once. Yet, I am ashamed and I am embarrassed that my illness is spread across the front pages of the London Times, New York Gazette or the Sydney Morning Herald each time one person expresses his or her narcissistic and sociopathic behaviours.

Internationally recognised 'The Woman in the Distance' : The Woman in the Distance'

Internationally recognised 'The Woman in the Distance' : The Woman in the Distance': Newcastle’s International Contemporary Artist has become internationally recognised as a new author. Sophie Mill’s inaugural book, ‘The Wom...

The Woman in the Distance'

Newcastle’s International Contemporary Artist has become internationally recognised as a new author. Sophie Mill’s inaugural book, ‘The Woman in the Distance’ is due out end of February. The book has already received rave reviews from the famed New York radio announcer Stu Taylor. Sophie’s stream of consciousness takes you on a creative, passionate, tortured and erotic journey into the Australian outback where the author battles with isolation and incredible hardships. This true story is a saga starting in 1912 and it is an emotional roller coaster ride of tears and heartbreak. ‘Freedom within has finally been found, and this is a personal accomplishment. The necessary journey to find myself was colossal, although given a second opportunity my life would be lived exactly the same way’. Sophie said. ‘I paint and write to find out what I am actually thinking’. The author said. ‘To examine your conscience entails honesty. I find it easy to be honest in the art studio, but to be honest in real life takes enormous effort’. Sophie went onto say, ‘The things that haunt you, the things that have power over you—once you confront them, they lose their power… I think I did that with my life time of depression and anxiety. Today, I am finally free of feeling fractured’. This story will inspire those who have battled with anorexia, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, mental illness, isolation and heartbreak. This story is not about defeatism. It is about finding creativity in the arduousness of our real lives. This is a must read book. Dates will be published about ‘Book Signing at the Junction Pub’ soon. All information can be found through www.sophiemill.com.au

What does it take to be authentic and original..: Action is Character. Scott Fizgerald

What does it take to be authentic and original.. How do we discover a sense of authenticity? or what is authenticity? I often hear and read many different articles about being original, aut...

Action is Character. Scott Fizgerald

How do we discover a sense of authenticity? or what is authenticity? I often hear and read many different articles about being original, authentic, true to the self, and you must live in the present moment all without having too much ego. It is all very well reading words abstracted from the Eastern Block that was part of their lives in the 1500's. But, we are living in the forever fast Western World where information comes at us faster than we can digest it. Is there any wonder original thoughts are difficult to gather never mind trying to do what is almost humanly impossible. There are many aspects of a personality that need to be present in order for us to live life, have a career and create. That is, we need some ego, some narcissism and some drifting thoughts in order to find originality and authenticity. We are human after all. To think creatively and originally is to live by ourselves, live in isolation, quietness and it is to accept that boredom is a creative link. In boredom, your own thoughts can be heard. Your own heartbeat can be felt. With that, a natural flow of inner creativity floats to the surface. To paint this creativity and allow others to enjoy it, is where that little bit of narcissism and ego come into play. Without it, no art would be on show. No books would be written and little music could be heard.

Action is character F. Scott Fitzgerald

How do we discover a sense of authenticity? or what is authenticity? I often hear and read many different articles about being original, authentic, true to the self, and you must live in the present moment all without having too much ego. It is all very well reading words abstracted from the Eastern Block that was part of their lives in the 1500's. But, we are living in the forever fast Western World where information comes at us faster than we can digest it. Is there any wonder original thoughts are difficult to gather never mind trying to do what is almost humanly impossible. There are many aspects of a personality that need to be present in order for us to live life, have a career and create. That is, we need some ego, some narcissism and some drifting thoughts in order to find originality and authenticity. We are human after all. To think creatively and originally is to live by ourselves, live in isolation, quietness and it is to accept that boredom is a creative link. In boredom, your own thoughts can be heard. Your own heartbeat can be felt. With that, a natural flow of inner creativity floats to the surface. To paint this creativity and allow others to enjoy it, is where that little bit of narcissism and ego come into play. Without it, no art would be on show. No books would be written and little music could be heard.

What is it like to be good in bed....: 'everyone who can read should read this book' Maya...

What is it like to be good in bed....: 'everyone who can read should read this book' Maya...: There are a few things in life I have never forgotten, and there are a few words of wisdom that also sit in my mind. My grandmother always...

'everyone who can read should read this book' Maya Angelou

There are a few things in life I have never forgotten, and there are a few words of wisdom that also sit in my mind. My grandmother always told me, 'wear life like a loose garment'. That way she said, 'it will allow you to grow and shrink, in life, without restrictions'. Another quote is from Pablo Picasso, 'the enemy of creativity is 'good' sense'. It is true. As soon as we become fearful of what others think of us, we become 'good' and in turn it robs us of something bigger. It robs us of our spirit and soul. Creativity is exactly like life; it needs to be fed. So what happens if we don't feed our creativity and passion? I think we become old. We become bitter and angry. But mostly, we become sad. This deep sadness can rise in all forms. It could be anxiety, depression, weight gain, tiredness, reduced sex drive and a whole host of other things. 'The Woman in the Distance' is a must read if you are suffering with anxiety, anorexia, lack of something you are un-able to articulate. This book will teach you how to find creativity and yourself. It will relax you into what is real in life. What is real is YOU! 'The Woman in the Distance' reflections of un-settled seasons due out end of February, 2014

What is it like to be good in bed....: In solitude we give passionate attention to our li...

What is it like to be good in bed....: In solitude we give passionate attention to our li...: My love is painting and my love is writing, but sometimes there is another pull. This pull keeps me in bed. But let me say for special ...

What is it like to be good in bed....: In solitude we give passionate attention to our li...

What is it like to be good in bed....: In solitude we give passionate attention to our li...: My love is painting and my love is writing, but sometimes there is another pull. This pull keeps me in bed. But let me say for special ...

In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us' Virginia Woolf

My love is painting and my love is writing, but sometimes there is another pull. This pull keeps me in bed. But let me say for special attention, depression spawns creativity. Lets not feel ashamed to keep talking openly so that we can stop stigma. Depression is disruptive to our lives but it can also be beaten, tragically for many not eradicated but more simply put – curtailed. Am I good in bed? I think so, I wrote a book. 'The Woman in the Distance' reflections of un-settled season. Due out end of February, 2014 book signing dates to be announced soon...

Hanging an Abstract Painting

I have many friends who have hung abstract pictures on their walls and found themselves gazing at them endlessly, and then exclaiming, 'I don't know what there is in that painting, but I can't take my eyes off it'.  This kind of bewilderment is salutary. It does us good not to be able to explain, either to ourselves or to others, what we enjoy or love; it expands our capacity for experience. 

The Art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. William James: Defining the Road to Follow.....

The Art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. William James: Defining the Road to Follow.....: My New Years wishes are vast, but they are not about hoping for less disappointments and failures, instead I will attempt to be more flexib...

Defining the Road to Follow.....

My New Years wishes are vast, but they are not about hoping for less disappointments and failures, instead I will attempt to be more flexible in my ideas, thoughts and set ideals.

On the first day of 2014, I noticed people writing on blogs and face book, 'it is time to let go of the past and move forward'.... 

Why do people feel threatened by their past mistakes, failures and lack of something that is often too hard to articulate?  Why do we feel the need to let it go, forget and march forward with a new found inner courage? 

A person's history does not begin with the birth but rather has roots that extend much further into the past.  Knowing about these roots help us understand the here-and-now.  We need not be frightened of the past but rather reflect, dream and then we find our own humanity; A crucial tool in Art.


Perhaps if we learnt more about Art, Writing and Expression we would naturally understand our unique selves. Our unique lives.  And, not feel such a strong need to 'wipe the slate clean', but to embrace the imperfections.  In Art, the imperfections make a painting interesting.

'It is impossible to predict the time of a philosophical Renaissance. One can only define the road to follow, but not it's length. What is certain, however, is that every aspect of Western Culture needs a new code of ethics- a rational ethics- as a precondition of rebirth . And no aspect needs it more desperately than the realm of art'.  Ayn Rand. The esthetic vacuum of our age.

Happy New Year.  Kind thoughts, Sophie