So here I am again writing about mental illness.
Bipolar Disorder to be precise.
It's not like I have a broken leg or skin condition that is visible to the naked eye. I have an illness which is invisible; however I dislike seeing it as an illness, more of an ability at times no matter how bizarre that may sound. I believe it is what has driven me to be successful in what I do.
You can't see the fact that I have Bipolar Disorder so unless I told you which I choose to do then you would never know.
Give me a few moments and I'll tell you about it: here we go...
I was diagnosed in September 2013 by a Psychiatrist. Prior to that I'd spent years (on and off) seeing councillors and Psychologist's to no avail. I had been on anti-depressants of which none worked for me and if at all I believe that they made me worse, not better.
Eventually after much deliberation and consideration many years later I was prescribed a mood stabiliser which I luckily found works well for me. I've been on it for two and a half years now and although I shouldn't have done the following (and I don't advise it without my Psychiatrist's permission) I've tried for months at a time to come off medication. This isn't because it doesn't work, it's because I don't want to be on med's for the rest of my life, or that's what I used to think anyway.
I've come to the conclusion that although I prefer not to be medicated it's not a massive issue for me that I am.
I'm not forced to be, but I'm advised to be and I'll take my 'daily dose' as per the doctor's request. I obviously prefer to be well and not to be ill, and I assume anyone would make that choice.
I thank whoever invented the prescribed drug that I take as it seems like to me that this 'wonder drug' if ever there was one; it's kept me on an even keel.
If this means a few tablets to take daily and a one off stop at a pharmaceutical to pick up my med's then so be it if that's what it takes to stay well, then that's what I'll do for the foreseeable anyway.
My name's Sharon and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a mental health condition. I refuse to let it rule my life and with it I'll help to stamp out the stigma and discrimination surrounding it. I will turn it into a positive instead of it being seeing in the media as a negative and I will continue to tackle it head on.