Bipolar Insight: A Medical Label or Route to Soul Growth?

An account of a bipolar person’s struggle eased by adopting a spiritual path.

Photo by Alexander Milo on Unsplash

Introduction

I’ve joined ‘Medium’ primarily to explore and express my mental health issues with a bipolar label attached to myself since a psychotic episode in my late teens — I’m now 44 years old.

Confessions of a Reluctant Bipolar Individual

I have to admit to some trepidation with joining the ‘Speaking Bipolar’ community within ‘Medium’.

Despite being drawn to the searingly honest and heartfelt insights expressed in the articles, which I’ve read from the community page thus far, I felt a mixture of relief that others hold such similar mind conditions to myself and shame that I’ve ignored this opportunity for fellowship for so many years by denying the veracity of my bipolar diagnosis.

I have been driven by my reluctance to accept any ‘badge’ that identified me as a person who has mental health challenges. I’ve always viewed my mental health struggles as transient and a temporary blip in an otherwise “normal” life.

This may have served me well in not being overcome with debilitating negativity and giving into victim-hood, but…