I Am An Adult With Bipolar Disorder

You are not alone. We are here for you!

The first thing you should know is that you are not alone. There are as many as 60 million people in the world living with bipolar. The vast majority are managing their condition and thriving. As with most chronic illnesses, the key is caring for oneself by being proactive, being well informed and accessing treatment, support and resources. Understandably, your new diagnosis may come as quite a blow. It might seem hard to believe, so lean on someone you trust who acknowledges the difficulty of the acceptance to help you come to terms with your condition. This very important step can ease your journey to (and maintenance of) mental wellness. What does this mean? It means that you don’t need to be ashamed of your diagnosis. Having bipolar is not your fault, period! You are not “broken” or “defective” – you are the same person as before you were diagnosed. You will now face and mitigate the challenges that this particular health condition presents. Do you have to manage bipolar daily? Yes, you do. Just like anyone with diabetes, a heart or other condition does daily. But, remember, just because you need to manage your bipolar daily, doesn’t mean you are defined by it.

Another way you can come to terms with bipolar is by addressing your doubts about whether your diagnosis is accurate. You may struggle with denial, finding it hard to accept that you have bipolar – many people do. Once you receive treatment (e.g., medication and therapy) you might feel “back to yourself”. It can be hard to believe you’re bipolar because you are not symptomatic. You might even decide to go off your treatment. If so, you are not alone. In fact, about half of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder become non-adherent to medication routines during long-term treatment. This statistic makes sense given the fact that medication can make symptoms disappear. In addition, some medications carry unwanted side effects. Abruptly stopping taking medications can bring on a depressive or manic episode that can be extremely disruptive to a person’s mood and daily functioning. It is hard to accept a bipolar diagnosis, and the reality that staying on medication is necessary as a key to wellness. One of the best things you can do is voice your thoughts and feelings. Your friends, family, therapist, and doctor can serve as both supports and information. Living with bipolar isn’t easy. You owe it to yourself to reach out for help. At IBPF, we look forward to your call. We are eager to offer support and information!

The International Bipolar Foundation is here to provide a broad range of resources to help you manage and cope with symptoms, prevent and rebound from mood episodes, and lead a stable, happy, and healthy life!

Reference for statistic about medication compliance.