Bipolar Disorder is No Laughing Matter

Yes, I have bipolar disorder, and no, I don’t want to hear your joke about it. It’s not funny to make jokes about people that have bipolar disorder. We live with a devastating mental illness that we struggle with every day to keep in some form of control and stability. The only time I want to see bipolar in print is when it is to fight the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder.

So many people have mental illness but will not admit it because they don’t want to get put through the abuse that society puts us through. It’s not fair for your friend to hide their heads in shame because you want to use “bipolar” as an adjective. For the record I also do not appreciate the phrase, “that’s so gay!” Gay and bipolar are not adjectives in the dictionary.

Why is it that every time a celebrity gets very eccentric, you say they are acting “bipolar?” Maybe it doesn’t help that the ones leading the pack in ignorance are actually the celebrities. Selena Gomez? Gwyneth Paltrow? What were you thinking?

There are many celebrities that do have bipolar disorder, and they don’t hide it. Very recently, child-star Demi Lovato admitted that she had been in a rehab facility for bipolar disorder. I am just relieved that she is trying to fight the stigma of mental illness.

I can occasionally make light of being mentally ill because that is how I deal with strong emotions, and yes, sometimes I laugh at a joke about manic-depression from Robin Williams. I just ask that you not think it’s funny to ask me if I took my meds today, in front of your friends to make them laugh. Remember that next time you speak, People Are Not Adjectives.


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