20 Messages for Anyone Who Feels Restricted by a Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

While a bipolar disorder diagnosis can feel like a heavy weight to bear, there’s a difference between a label and a definition. While a label is a guide for treatment options and understanding, it cannot limit or change the person you are.

• What is Bipolar disorder?

For World Bipolar Day, the International Bipolar Foundation is asking its community to look beyond their labels with this year’s theme “More Than A Diagnosis.” Their asking people with bipolar disorder to submit photos or videos with a message about what defines them outside of having bipolar disorder. People who do not have bipolar disorder can submit a supportive message.

In honor of this year’s theme, we asked people in the International Bipolar Foundation’s community to tell us one message they would send someone who feels restricted by bipolar disorder.

Here’s what they want those people to know:

1. “Don’t put pressure on yourself to be anything for anyone else. Just be true to yourself. Accept your limitations, and only push them for you.” — Karen Smith

2. “You are not defined by a diagnosis. You have an illness, you are not that illness. There’s so much more to you!” — Kristen Jordan Zeiler

3. “Believe all you see and half of what you hear. Life can be good and should be lived.” — Margaret Moore

4. “It does change your life, but it gives you a more compassionate understanding of suffering, it builds resilience, and the depth of empathy you feel can be used in a truly special way with those you choose to share it with.” — Lucy Edwards

5. “It changes you, for sure. It seems restricting at first. But, with time, you learn new ways around those restrictions. You learn how to be successful in different ways and through different paths. It changes your life, but it doesn’t stop it unless you let it. It changes how you see the world, and only you can decide if that is for better or worse. Love yourself for all that you are and through all you endure.” — Elissa Farmer

6. “Be gentle on yourself, but don’t let your illness hinder you from setting your sights high. It will be difficult to get there, but you have it in you to realize your dreams! Having a mental illness teaches you to fight, and through it you become stronger. You got this!” — Katie Andrews Potter

7. “Be yourself! And work with your diagnosis. It doesn’t define you as a person. You may have had the condition longer than you knew, except now you can understand it and your actions. — Kaye Marshall

8. “Try your best to realize you are not your illness or your symptoms. Be OK with having bad days, and celebrate the good ones. Ask yourself what you would love to do if you didn’t have bipolar, then take tiny steps toward doing it anyway. I never thought I’d be able to continue my education, but here I am, two and a half months shy of a MFA in writing. Get out there when you can, and be gentle with yourself when you can’t.” — Trenda Marie Berryhill

9. “You are still the same you inside. A mental health diagnosis just helps your doctors to more easily create a path back to a healthier, more balanced you. Do whatever you have to do to get back to the real you. She’s still in there. She’s worth it. You are not your diagnoses or your traumas. You are so much more.” — Danielle Hark

10. “For me, my diagnosis meant I wasn’t alone in the world anymore, that there were other people like me! It means I have the opportunity to get treatment and support for who and what I am. I am not afraid of labels; it is others who are afraid of labels. I am proud of who I am, my diagnosis means I have something to overcome, something to fight, and I do fight it, I live with it, and if others are afraid of it, that’s their baggage, not mine.” — Vicki Hope

11. “I would say take some time to grow. Learn every detail about your condition. Keep a journal. Bug your medication manager if your meds aren’t working. Look into your negative self-talk, and replace it with positive affirmations. Powerful.” — Susan Reed

12. “You might have to adjust your lifestyle so you can manage the bipolar disorder, but you are not alone. Find that inner strength to fight the illness positively. Pace yourself, and live at your pace.” — Hina Singh

13. “You will never know your limits until you try. You might even end up surprising yourself. If you make an attempt and it doesn’t work out, it’s OK. At most, you tried. It’s better than not doing anything and living with what-ifs. Each attempt is part of your journey, and the journey is always more important than the destination. Surround yourself with people who believe in you.” — G Mae Aquino

14. “I was diagnosed with bipolar diagnosed as a teenager, and now I’ve been through two years of college and three years of university and I’m almost a qualified mental health nurse. So it will be difficult at times, but it does not restrict you from being what you want to be.” — Laura Louise Artell

15. “My mom told me from the day I was diagnosed ‘it’s a disease not an excuse.’  That I can do anything anyone else can do, I just have to work a little harder, which makes the end result that much better.” — Kimberly Dawn

16. “The disease is just as multifaceted as any individual is, so don’t feel boxed in by the labels and traits associated with the diagnoses. You’re more than the sum of your parts.” — Kelly Hainz

17. “Your opinion is the most important opinion. If you believe in yourself and love yourself (when you’re ready to), that’s what’s counts. Never compromise your sense of self and don’t compare yourself to others. It’s not worth it! This is your journey.” — Melanie Luxenberg

18. “I find that first off, you have to accept yourself, love yourself, forgive yourself and seek assistance from your doctors and therapists. Take control of your own life and don’t be bitter to have this horrible disorder. Find your triggers and get rid of them if you can.” — Karlee Chavez

19. “It’s OK you feel this way. When you learn more about bipolar disorder and more about yourself, you will learn to feel less restricted. It will be OK, it will be difficult, it will be wonderful all at the same time. One day, slowly but surely, we will have the courage to move past everything that holds us back.” — Harleen Singh

20. “You may have ‘xyz’ but that does not mean that you are ‘xyz.’ Who you are is different altogether.” — Manda Raics

*Some responses have been edited and shortened for brevity.

What defines you? Submit your photo or video by clicking here. The deadline is March 15.