Top 10 Frustrations Living With Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder amplifies the stress of everyday life. Not only that, but living with bipolar disorder adds a whole new level of stress. From my personal experience, this leads to more frustrations.

Those individuals who do not live with a mental illness feel the so-called “normal” impact of daily stress. Bipolar disorder adds its own set of stress and frustrations to the mix.

10 Frustrations Living With Bipolar Disorder

In no particular order…

#1 Frustration

Negative Side Effects of Prescribed Medication

The negative side effects of using prescribed medication are both annoying and frustrating. Some people give up on finding a medication that works, even before trying their full range of options. There are so many medications and combinations of med cocktails, you are almost guaranteed to find something that works.

The problem many people face is the amount of time it takes to find a medication mix that works. This process tried my patience over and over again. It took me 10 years of trial-and-error before I found a cocktail of meds that I could tolerate and provided me stability. However, I know people that their first medication they tried worked, without those annoying negative side effects.

On a number of occasions, I tried medication with such horrible side effects that I needed to take two more medications to counteract the negative side effects of the one medication. Talk about frustrating!

With my doctor’s supervision, she weaned me off the medication with the troublesome side effects, which allowed me to wean off the other two. She then tried me on a new one. It really is a process of trial-and-error.

My suggestion is to advocate for yourself. You should never feel stuck in a corner. If you cannot tolerate the side effects of a medication, speak with your doctor. With the help of your doctor, you can find other options.

#2 Frustration

Stigma

There is a big stigma associated with bipolar disorder. People have their own preconceived notions of what bipolar disorder is, based on their own experience. Generally speaking, their idea of what bipolar disorder is generally is based on misinformation.

My suggestion to anybody who does not understand bipolar disorder is to simply ask somebody living with it. You can even read my published book, This War Within My Mind – a dictionary of information about bipolar disorder.

Stigma is like a virus that feeds on misinformation, prejudice, and ignorance.

#3 Frustration

People Who Call Me “Crazy”

Calling those of us with bipolar disorder “crazy” contributes to stigma. This goes back to misinformation, prejudice, and ignorance. It is like calling someone a bad name.

Using hurtful words can deeply wound a person’s psyche. Next time think before you say anything.

#4 Frustration

People Who Automatically Assume Those Of Us On Disability Are Taking Advantage Of The System

Making a general statement based on assumptions and not getting the whole story spreads rumors that are not true. Remember high school? Yep, just like that.

You can simply Google the term “disability” and read about the process of going through the Social Security Administration. Not only do you have to go through a rigorous application process, but once you are accepted, you are closely monitored to make sure you still qualify as “disabled.”

Like anything, there are those few bad apples who try to take advantage of the system. Just remember – those few bad apples do not represent the majority.

Regulations have tightened up over the years to make it more difficult to get disability benefits. The main idea is to try and weed out those people who attempt to cheat the system.

#5 Frustration

Inability To Function On A Daily Basis

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. That being said, bipolar disorder is not only characterized by an extreme shift in mood but also changes in energy level and motivation. With so many fluctuating variables, your ability to function can be compromised quite easily.

Sometimes I cannot get out of bed. I am literally incapacitated because of my nonexistent level of energy and motivation. During these instances, my mind and body are beyond the threshold of exhaustion.

I know some people say, “Just do it. When I feel bad, I just force myself out of bed and shower.” Unfortunately, when you live with bipolar disorder, it is not a question of will. I sure wish it were that easy.

With bipolar disorder, my mind works completely differently compared to someone who does not live with a mental illness. My mind can lie to me and play tricks. I am not speaking about negative self-talk, either. I am talking about the biological difference in how my mind functions compared to someone without bipolar disorder.

It is beyond frustrating to me when I cannot function from day-to-day due to my fluctuating motivation and energy. This is a hard part of living with bipolar disorder that I had to accept.

Mood episodes can last one week, or oftentimes a lot longer. There can be extreme changes in motivation and energy levels throughout the course of one episode. This directly impacts my ability to function during the day.

#6 Frustration

“It Is All In Your Head”

The implication of this statement is that I just need to change my thought process. You know, “say enough positive affirmations, and that will make it all better.”

Alternatively, some people say that bipolar disorder is a construct of my own mind. Again, “just change how I think.” I wish it were a matter of human will, but it simply is not.

A mental illness, like bipolar disorder, is termed an “invisible illness” because you cannot see it with your naked eye like other physical issues. This does not make it any less real.

Many people do not believe something if they cannot see it. Unfortunately, this line of thinking creates prejudice, feeds ignorance, and perpetuates stigma.

Is it all in my head? I don’t think so.

#7 Frustration

“We All Have A Little Bipolar In Us”

The person who says this equates mood to a feeling. Feelings and moods are not the same.

Throughout the course of a day, an individual can feel happy, then sad, and back and forth. Yes, we all experience feelings, but we all do not experience the extreme shift in mood that accompanies bipolar disorder. Happiness does not equal mania, and sadness does not equal depression.

#8 Frustration

“You Have Control Over This”

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness. Like any other illness, we do not have control over it.

However, we can take steps to prevent a possible mood episode. How we live our lives from day-to-day will impact our bipolar disorder – for the good or the bad. Following a healthy lifestyle will help improve how you manage and function.

The things we can control:

• If we take our medication.
• When we take our medication.
• The time we go to bed each night.
• How many times do we eat each day.
• What foods do we consume.
• When we eat.
• And more.

These actions are preventative measures that are done in the hope of reducing the severity and frequency of mood episodes.

#9 Frustration

Those Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder Who Say They Have A Mild Form Of It

Downplaying bipolar disorder minimizes the seriousness of it. This is an example of how a person living with bipolar disorder perpetuates the stigma of an illness they are living with.

To me, this is both sad and frustrating.

There is a spectrum of bipolar disorder in terms of the severity of symptoms. However, this is not a spectrum of the difficulty of living with bipolar disorder. They are not one and the same.

#10 Frustration

Physical Issues That Often Accompany Bipolar Disorder

To me, it makes sense that those of us living with bipolar disorder also have additional physical issues. This is an observation I have made from my own lived experience and hearing the same from so many others.

Some of the most common physical issues I have seen and heard about related to bipolar disorder include heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, back issues, and tremors or shakes.

Last Thoughts

Just because you are down one day and up the next day does not necessarily mean you have bipolar disorder. It takes a medically licensed professional to diagnose bipolar disorder.

Words have a greater impact than we once thought. The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” no longer holds weight.

Take a moment to think before you speak. This can help break down the walls of stigma.