Biplolar is not a character flaw or a deadly disease like cancer. You can't catch it like a cold. So why make a big deal about people with mental illness? Because some people are ignorant and don't understand the disorder. 

I always thought I was just depressed all the time. I didn't understand why I was feeling the way I was feeling. God knows I HATED feeling like that. 

Then there would be a couple of times where I felt like I was going to crawl right out of my own skin. I couldn't sit or stand still. I always thought I had this never ending supply of money that I could spend on anything I wanted. So I shared the unwealth. I started buying things for friends (I thought you had to "buy" friends to keep them as friends.). I went on MAJOR cleaning sprees at home where my house was never clean enough. OH I got soo MAD at everyone in the house for messing up the house after I just spent all day cleaning the whole house, even though I did it the day before. 

I also had anger management issues. I didn't know how to cope with anger. I had no coping skills. I had been brought up in a twisted childhood. So, I never coped with anger, I just expressed it. Now as a mom, I can't act like that. There are days where I want to, but I know I just can't. 

I also have chronic depression, post traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.