Today my father sent me a picture about Bipolar disorder which stated that Bipolar is not just being sad when something happens. It said it’s a medical condition, not a personality trait. It was titled “We’re All a Little Bipolar”
While I agree with all the information in the picture, the delivery is what bothers me. I, myself, have Bipolar. I have for most of my life.
What I have been moving away from, and this is the issue I have with the picture, is the them versus us attitude. I find it hard enough to assimilate into society with this affliction, but I don’t feel the way forward is to ask other people to change. I think the way forward is to accept what you are and understand why other people may feel otherwise. I know it’s easier said than done.
I feel that what happens when you adopt this mindset that other people will never understand, is that you are segregating yourself from them. The truth is, we all have medical conditions. We all have things we go through.
I’m in no way trying to minimize my father’s experience or say that he’s wrong for identifying with the message in the picture.
For me, once I start presenting bipolar as an explanation of who I am rather than something I live with, it starts moving from medical condition toward identity. I choose to keep my Bipolar as a medical condition. This helps me not feel ill will toward others who may not be able to understand what it means to be Bipolar. It also helps me know that I have a condition which requires my own personal adjustments and not the adjustments of others who may not be willing or able to adjust.
Then again, I’ve now devoted an entire blog post to analyzing how I responded to a picture, so apparently over-analysis is one identity I’m perfectly willing to embrace.
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