One of the major discussions in the mental health community is how to refer to your diagnosis. Some people say you should always say you have the condition; not that you are the diagnosis. The common rationale for that is that your illness shouldn’t define you. It isn’t who you are. People point out that no one says “I am cancer,” or “I am diabetes.”
• What is Bipolar disorder?
But I say I am bipolar because my diagnosis helps define me. To be honest, it is a huge part of who I am. While I was first diagnosed in my early 30s, I’ve looked back and can see I started having my symptoms in puberty.
Most of my formative years happened while I was mentally ill. My bipolar disorder helped shape all of the facets of my life. In high school, the waves of mania and depression affected not just my emotions but also my sense of self-worth, my ability to make and keep friends, my sexuality and my reputation.
Now that I have been diagnosed and I am successfully managing my condition, I am stronger, more confident and more at peace. My bipolar is providing me with opportunities that I might have never had if I didn’t have it. I have become an advocate for people with mental health conditions through my writings, speeches and volunteer work.
I think my mental illness is so integral to who I am that the Daria who is wouldn’t exist without my bipolar.
So I am Daria and I’m bipolar.
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
I’m a college educate educated, single mother of 2, a special needs teenage daughter and a “typically” developing 5 year old son. I work full time testing websites. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 in January 2007. In 2010, during a manic episode, I was arrested, sent to jail, and after being declared incompetent to stand trial I spent 45 days in a state mental hospital. I have served on 2 local commissions dealing with the people in mental health crises and law enforcement . I am currently serving on the Board of the county department that provides mental health, intellectual disability, and addiction services. I also share my lived experiences with people with mental illness and their families, the general public, and law enforcement offices. I try to speak up for those that are unable to speak themselves.
daria-akers