I AM: Not A Ticking Time Bomb
RE: I AM Beautifully and Wonderfully made.
As I prepared to relaunch this blog and build a holistic wellness platform, finding out, I have a mental illness was shocking. The following steps stalled me for a few days. I was scared to be open about my diagnosis for fear of how much misinformation we believe about bipolar disorder.
It wasn’t hard to find articles about diagnosing any mental illness in Black women, and from a Black woman’s perspective, but the experiences I read were from those who had been diagnosed later in life. When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I knew that there wasn’t much information explaining what it was like to be told that you are a ticking time bomb of mood swings, not really knowing what to do with myself. I decided to write a blog to offer support and share my diagnosis story.
Time To Get Honest, Me Too?
Upon finding out about possibly being Bipolar, I immediately thought of every last stigma. I began to think of how people wouldn’t take me seriously, how I couldn’t be a leader, and how I had just started a certification program that I wasn’t going to be able to use. I began to think of how this couldn’t be true. Then I thought of how I am a mental wellness advocate and have helped friends and family work through issues preventing their wellness. How could I instantly snap into a “That’s them” attitude? Answer - I can’t. It’s not them; it’s me too!
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. In part, this stems from the fact that it's so often portrayed negatively by the media, which can give people an inaccurate picture of what it's like to live with bipolar disorder.
Not only are there a lot of myths and misunderstandings surrounding bipolar disorder, but many people (including doctors) don't recognize that it manifests differently in men and women—and even more specifically, differently in black women than it does in white women. These differences can often lead to misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis, preventing people from getting the help they need.
So what is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by mood swings between mania and depression. While we all experience mood swings to some degree, these shifts are much more severe when you have bipolar disorder and are accompanied by other changes in your behavior, sleep patterns, and energy levels.
Facts About Bipolar Disorder In Black Women
Black women are an amazing group of people. We can do anything, be anything—we are the backbone of our community. But sometimes, we get overwhelmed by everything that's going on in our lives, and it can take a toll on our mental health. One mental health condition that disproportionately affects black women is bipolar disorder.
In general, the symptoms look the same for men and women—except for a subtle difference: black women tend to have more episodes of mania than white women do. The reason for this has not been fully identified, but some researchers believe that it could be due to cultural differences between white women and black women that affect.
The Stigma of Mental Illness in the Black Community and Why It Needs to End
Growing up, mental illness was not something you talked about in my community. It wasn’t even something you could imagine having because no one talked about it at all. It was just this thing people suffered from “over there” as if it didn’t exist here—in our neighborhood or homes—or even worse, as if it were a weakness to be ashamed of.
This shame leads to people keeping quiet about their struggles and suffering alone because they don’t want to be judged by others or labeled as crazy or weak. That only makes matters worse, which is why we need to change how we talk about mental health.
If you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, don't be afraid to talk about it! There is a stigma around mental health within the black community, but it doesn't have to be that way! You can overcome this stigma by starting conversations with your loved ones or even seeking support from local Mental Health America affiliates. Let's stop the stigma with mental illness together!
Takeaway: Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder can be overwhelming, but finding support is essential.
We just want to be treated like everybody else, and we want to live our lives without being judged. From my personal experience and many others, I know that this happens more often than it should. Yes, bipolar disorder is serious and hard to handle, but it’s not impossible. It’s not something that you can simply cover up with a smile and walk on. Bipolar disorder and depression are things that will get in your way sometimes, but if you work hard enough, they won’t slow you down."
If you have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder or if you have a friend or family member who has been diagnosed, I hope that this article will be helpful to you. I wanted to write about some of my experiences to bring awareness and let people know that there is help available. My goal is for more people to feel comfortable and seek help because it does get better. And you are loved and supported.
