I’ve been living with bipolar 1 disorder for several years, and it can make life a challenging ride. Every day brings peaks and valleys due to the mood swings associated with this condition. There are plenty of highs — moments when I’m feeling energized and motivated — as well as lows that can leave me feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
One of the most difficult things about living with bipolar disorder is its unpredictability. It doesn’t always follow a certain pattern or schedule, which makes it so hard to manage. When I’m in a good frame of mind, keeping up my routines helps me stay on track, but on days when I’m feeling down it can be almost impossible to maintain any sense of stability.
It’s not easy having this disorder, but it’s also not something I am ashamed of either. Stigma surrounding mental health issues is unfortunately still pervasive in society today, but knowing that there are others who understand what I’m going through makes it easier to cope. Fortunately, there are numerous treatments available nowadays that have helped improve my symptoms significantly over time — from medications to talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and other interventions.
Bipolar disorder isn’t easy to live with at times. But opening up about my condition has enabled me to gain support and feel less alone in the process.