BIPOLAR DISORDER: The Inner Story (Part 1)

In the first of a series of much-needed and informative articles on bipolar disorder, Marita Nazareth gives us a view of the other side of the story—that of the one who 1s afflicted by it

- Marita Nazareth

Have you ever tried driving a car without H That’s exactly how I feel when I am afflicted by the disorder.’ I have this amazing gift called Life, but when I want to engage, I can’t figure out where to get the fuel from or when the petrol runs out. And at other times, it’s as if I have so much petrol and not enough places to go!

Any disease that is mental or emotional is as much a disease as that which involves pain, such as cancer, diabetes, hernia, piles, etc. Only, it’s a lot worse as it is not visible and the levels of awareness are low. Also, it does not normally elicit much compassion in the same way that physical illness does.

By the way, physical pain is part of the package, but it is rarely talked about as the mental pain is much worse. I have some pain all the time—cramps and other weird symptoms that disappear along with the depression. Also, I invariably get dental issues or a frozen shoulder. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga shared her experiences with fibromyalgia, which accompanies her mental health issues. Voices regarding mental health are louder these days, and that fills me with hope.

The prognosiz

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder BD) several years ago. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness in which common emotions become intense and, often, unpredictably magnified. I have had chronic insomnia, high levels of anxiety, and panic attacks, right since my school days. I would do well at maths and literature, but anything that required memory was very difficult due to the high levels of anxiety that accompanied my exams.