I mean, I knew I was and most people knew I was from what I told them, but at the time I really didn’t even grasp exactly what everything it meant. I have lived with it since I was about 12-13, I had a step-father with it most of my adolescence, dealt with my first serious boyfriend that had it, and was finally diagnosed when I was about 26/27 years old, along with ADHD.
But I thought I understood and knew what it was all about.
I didn’t have a clue.
Which is why I was completely blindsided by a 3-4 year mania which almost ended my second marriage (and I’m sure had a lot to do with the beginning and end of my first marriage).
I spent 2006 until about 2013/14 convincing myself and everyone around me that I really wasn’t bipolar because it was used against me so harshly. Which had a lot to do with the lack of information I had on it.
And has everything to do with why I am now a “screaming advocate” for it now.
Information and knowledge IS power. For those with it AND those who love and care for those with it, or any other mental illness.
Please try to help and understand and show a bit of compassion for those that can’t speak freely or easily about these things, they really need the support. Even if they appear wise and strong on their own.
23 Mar 2019
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Coming out of the closet
This article showed up right when I was thinking about this (yay Facebook reading my mind, yet again…)
Why I Decided to Come Out of the Bipolar Closet
I “came out” to everyone about 3 – 4 years ago.
I mean, I knew I was and most people knew I was from what I told them, but at the time I really didn’t even grasp exactly what everything it meant. I have lived with it since I was about 12-13, I had a step-father with it most of my adolescence, dealt with my first serious boyfriend that had it, and was finally diagnosed when I was about 26/27 years old, along with ADHD.
But I thought I understood and knew what it was all about.
I didn’t have a clue.
Which is why I was completely blindsided by a 3-4 year mania which almost ended my second marriage (and I’m sure had a lot to do with the beginning and end of my first marriage).
I spent 2006 until about 2013/14 convincing myself and everyone around me that I really wasn’t bipolar because it was used against me so harshly. Which had a lot to do with the lack of information I had on it.
And has everything to do with why I am now a “screaming advocate” for it now.
Information and knowledge IS power. For those with it AND those who love and care for those with it, or any other mental illness.
Please try to help and understand and show a bit of compassion for those that can’t speak freely or easily about these things, they really need the support. Even if they appear wise and strong on their own.
ESPECIALLY if they do.