Correct me if I’m wrong, but bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) seems to have less societal acceptance than depression without mania (chronic, dysthymia, etc). Depression seems more common: Is it?

Maybe the depressed share their stories more often. As far as I know, no one has ever called me “crazy” for being depressed. Sure, some bitter exes, some close friends have called me crazy. I am a woman, after all, but people legitimately use the word “crazy” to describe bipolar people and that’s not fair at all. They are both very similar mental illnesses.

Despite my hatred of the word “crazy,” it is important to note that Bipolar Disorder can be much more difficult to maintain, especially without medication. It’s more obvious. A depressed person may act completely normal when they’re depressed, but if you’re manic, it’s a bit harder to hide, it’s harder to be high-functioning.

Any mental illness can make you seem like a different person, can make you irritable, can make you hard or mean, but I’ve noticed these personality changes affect bipolar people more than depressed people or schizophrenic people. Perhaps this is why there’s a harder stigma?

As depression is becoming less and less taboo, Bipolar Disorder is still in the “yeah let’s not talk about it” realm. I am so grateful for my fellow bloggers and friends with Bipolar Disorder who constantly talk about it with friends and strangers alike.

It is so important to talk about your mental health and how you’re dealing with it, not just for your own health, but for the health and knowledge of the community.

What do you think about Bipolar Disorder? Do you think that some mental health problems have more issues than others?


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The author lives with Dysthymia, a form of low-level, high-functioning Depression usually associated with people who have PTSD from childhood. She has two immediate family members with Bipolar Disorder and an uncle who died from his struggle with Depression (yup, suicide). She would not speak for others without these experiences and she is happy to discuss the matter with those who may disagree with her views in the comments below.

Some of the links in this post are affiliated links and The Barefoot Aya may receive a percentage of the item purchased. This does not mean that any company supports The Barefoot Aya nor does it mean that I do not fully recommend these products. I would never link to a product unless I fully recommend it.

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Photo Credit: weed-and-poetry