Dare I bring it up in conversation??

Do you ever have things like this come up in conversation? :-

Me:. I have bipolar disorder

Person I'm talking with : oh yes my friends uncle's first cousins sisters neighbour has that so I know all about it.

Me: internal groan and polite smile.

It's that simple I have been labelled bipolar girl and this person thinks they know everything about my illness and therefore me 😕 sigh

I AM NOT BIPOLAR

But I do have bipolar.
I am Soul, an individual with a lot more about me than just bipolar disorder and somebody, everybody else's experience of it is their own. We are all unique,not a group of bipolar robots with the exact same actions and reactions. If it was that simple wouldn't there be a cure?

Some health conditions come with a specific set of symptoms that can be recognised and just by saying what it is, you are understood.

For example asthma.
if someone found you gasping for breath the chances are they will know you need your inhaler /puffer.
Bipolar is so very different. With its overwhelming array of symptoms and types. Often we do not know what we need or how we feel so how can this new person you are talking with know?

What are your experiences of bipolar coming up in conversation?

Have you felt misunderstood?

Have you found unexpected support and understanding?

Are you unable or not ready to openly share it?

I would love to hear from you ❤️🌹