He is so f*cking bipolar, man!
Mental illnesses are hard to comprehend for those who have not experienced them. You can describe a state as sad, melancholic, euphoric, but these words only scratch the surface. You can say you are depressed, but people don’t always understand. And words cannot convey the intensity of what individuals with mental illnesses experience.
This post is about a zine (a mini-magazine) describing bipolar disorder through illustrations. The concept came into being when I realised that sketches I made brought out visceral reactions in people I showed them to. “Ah, now I get it!”, they said, when I showed them sketches expressing the anguish of depression.
So I put together a series of sketches and illustrations with some text to visually describe bipolar disorder, to spread awareness and to show people they are not alone. Take a look at this video, which is a flipbook animation of the actual book.
The word ‘bipolar’ gets thrown around a lot. And in the wrong context, more often than not. So how much do you know about bipolar disorder? How much do you understand?
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness characterised by alternating states of major depression (low energy, sadness, hopelessness) and mania/hypomania (pathological elevations in mood and energy). The highs and lows of the disorder are not like the regular ups and downs of life. They are extreme, disrupt daily functioning, and can have serious consequences both for the individual and others.
If you have bipolar disorder or know someone who does, know that you are not alone. If you think you might have bipolar disorder, get the opinion of a mental health professional. Remember, there is hope.
If you would like to know more about the zine, ask away!
