Living with ritalin and bipolar: my story

I’ve been living with both Bipolar Disorder and Ritalin for several years now, and it’s completely turned my life upside down. My emotions go up and down like a roller coaster, and I can alternate between feeling really energized one minute to feeling completely deflated in the next. But I’m learning how to manage my symptoms better every day.

Ritalin is an essential part of managing my Bipolar Disorder. Whenever I start to feel manic, it helps me stabilize my moods so that I can focus on what needs to be done without becoming overwhelmed. It also keeps me from getting extremely depressed when things don’t happen as quickly or perfectly as I’d like them to.

My journey with Ritalin has been difficult because there have been times when it doesn’t seem to work at all, or not as quickly as I’d like it to. It’s times like those that make me realize that even more than taking medication, communication and understanding are key for me when it comes to managing my condition day-to-day.

Having Bipolar Disorder coupled with Ritalin is no easy ride for sure but it is manageable if you take your mental health seriously and seek the help you need along the way. Managing your lifestyle and learning coping mechanisms will ensure that you live above your diagnoses—it’s taken me some time but getting to this point has given me hope for a more fulfilling life in the future!