Exactly one year ago, at Dominican Hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit, I was told by their psychiatrist that I had bipolar 1 disorder.
It was a shock, to say the least.
My father has it, and I believe that other people in my immediate family have it as well. It’s an often genetic disease, and it’s no different than cancer, diabetes, or a broken leg.
I’m so fu*&$ing sick of the social stigma with this illness. Wake up and smell the bipolar coffee, folks. Recent statistic show that mental illness is incredibly prevalent…I can’t cite the exact stats, but they are plain-old-scary, meaning that mental illness is going to touch a lot of people’s lives in the coming year. So what can you do? Educate yourself. Help eradicate the stigma by coming out and wearing your “Proudly Bipolar!” t-shirt like I plan to do. 
Go to support groups to find other people who have worn your shoes and walked the walk of having bipolar. If you have bipolar, get your loved one support of his/her own. Have your significant otter go to a NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Il) support group; they have ones that meet frequently for the family members of those with bipolar.
My husband is going to one next week. My psychiatrist Dr. A thinks that’s an “excellent idea”. Craig and I are also going to go see a marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with people with bipolar and their families.
Living with me has been extraordinarily difficult for Craig – I see that now.
But the good news is that I love him so much and he loves me too. He’s an amazing, loving father to our kids. We still have fun together. We’re going to heal our seven-year-long marriage this year and nothing will get in our way. We’re going to kick bipolar’s ass together!
If you want more info. on those NAMI support groups, go to:
http://www.nami.org/
(for anywhere in the country)
http://www.namiscc.org/
for Santa Cruz County
