To Demi Lovato, From a Mother of a Girl With Bipolar Disorder
Dear Demi,
I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of my 11-year-old daughter who has bipolar disorder. You see, because you are so willing to talk openly about having bipolar disorder, you have helped reduce the stigma surrounding this mental illness. I’m sure you are aware of how people feel when the hear the word “bipolar.” They worry if you’re a safe person to talk to. They worry if they can be friends with you. The list goes on.
• What is Bipolar disorder?
Because you’re such a public figure and an inspiration for tweeners like my daughter, your voice carries a lot of weight. You may not want to be a role model, but you are. You can either use your status to spread acceptance or hide in shame. I, for one, am grateful that you chose to take the high road.
I’m teaching my daughter to advocate for herself. My hope is that one day she will use her voice to let others know she wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, not who the media tells others she is.
Demi, I want to encourage you to continue using your platform to show children like my daughter they’re not alone. It won’t be easy. Some days you may feel like giving up. Please don’t! Keep moving forward. Kids like my daughter are counting on you. I’m counting on you.
Fondly,
The Mother of an Adoring Fan
Follow this journey on Raising a Drama Queen.
Cate Luther is a happily married 52-year-old mom raising a 13-year-old daughter who has whole alphabet soup of diagnoses, among them Bipolar Disorder and Autism. In April of 2016, we added brain tumor survivor to the mix. Ever since she was little, Princess has been a drama queen in training, hence the title of my blog.
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