10 Things I Need the People in My Life to Understand About Bipolar Disorder.

I am and have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition in which I have shown symptoms of for many years (and ultimately has left me being hospitalized on various occasions.)

I have also been over the years been diagnosed with different mood disorders, including general depression, clinical depression and psychotic depression. 

On this journey, I have found there are many misconceptions about this disorder, and it has made it really difficult to get people to understand what is actually going on.

Here are 10 things I wish they could know.

1. I can make my own decisions, please don’t try to take decisions out of my hands.

2. Do not act like I’m only using my mental illness as an excuse.

3. My condition, my choice.

I live with bipolar, not you. This means I take control over my treatment. This means I decide which medication to take (along with support from my psychiatrist and mental health team) and which therapies to have. 

4. I cannot always control my moods.

5. I am so sorry if I miss an event, I probably wanted with all my heart to be there, I promise.

6. Give me space if I need it, sensory overload is scary!

7. Do not assume I’m manic when I’m happy. 

8. If I’m either depressed/low or manic, do not assume I have not been taking my medicine.

9. My mental illness can influence my physical health. It is not just all in my head.

10. Although I may be able to “get to grips” with my condition, it will never go away. Bipolar is extremely unpredictable.

Right now, bipolar is a lifelong condition. I will never be cured of the condition that has disrupted and derailed my life on way too many occasions. However, in time I can come to terms with it.