I can’t even begin to describe how the roller coaster of emotions I experience feels like. One moment, I feel on top of the world - invincible, happy, and adventurous. The next minute, I’m in a deep pit of emotional despair - overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety beyond words.
It took me a long time before I could accept that I had bipolar disorder. A significant event in my life forced me to look inward and confront this disorder head-on instead of running away from it.
The process of accepting my condition has been one of ups and downs - just like my bipolar condition itself. The hardest part of dealing with it is understanding that these episodes heave on for days at a time and become nearly unbearable until they pass. In times when I was feeling particularly low, all I wanted was someone to hold me tight and remind me that everything will eventually work out alright.
It’s not easy living with bipolar disorder, but with proper treatment it can be managed effectively. Through therapy and medication, I have learned how to recognize the onset of depressive episodes quickly and take steps to mitigate them as soon as possible. It wasn’t an easy journey but one filled with growth in awareness about myself as a person while learning about my mental health condition along the way.
Bipolar disorder will always be a part of me but it doesn’t define who I am as a person or determine how much joy there is in my life.