Private: dia gn

Normalize differences. Respect boundaries. And know that if you manage
depressive symptoms there is always hope when you fight giving up.

I was recent diagnosed as bipolar. I only share this because I want to
remove the stigma from my life. I have dealt with extreme highs and lows all my
life. Mostly since the time I was 14 and I let my mind astray. I can recall
moving to NZ on a whim when I was 19. Before that I was going to go to China
and was fixated on learning Mandarin. Moving to the opposite side of the world
seemed like the only way to escape my depression. It worked for 9 months or so.
Until a day it rained hard, and I realize how my I missed home. I bought a
ticket back that day.

I want people to realize that depression and “mental illness” is
not an illness at all. There is an imbalance of neurochemicals in my brain that
can be managed with medication (and hopefully mostly therapy). To me, it is no
different than any other disease (I truly hate that word). If someone has
Crohn’s I am not going to pity them or make them feel like they are less than. If
you talk to me in person, please do not bring it up unless I do. I have told
very few people, just recently my family. In the end, this is comical because I
inherited it from them.

I am still exploring how to manage my symptoms and how to live a fulfilled
life. I know I will make the best of the situation and even thrive. I just need
to be patient with myself and know that it is not always rainbows and sunshine.
I am ok with the lows if I do not dig myself deeper into my own grave.
Figuratively and literally.