A Bit of Prose: I Am…..

This was originally posted May 11th, 2014 on my blog site. I am reposting this for World Bipolar Day. 5.7 million people in the United States, about 2.7 percent of the population, have bipolar disorder. Although our labels may say clinical mood disorder, rapid-cycle bipolar, or schizoaffective disorder, this diagnosis does not define us. For more information about bipolar disorder, please visit the International Bipolar Foundation 

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I’m a human being.
I have a mental disorder.

I am your significant other/co-worker/boss/family member. I am your car dealer/hairdresser/first responder/politician. I am anyone you see on a regular basis.

I am a human being.
I have a mental disorder.

I have to live with this.
I can’t cure this.
I can’t make it go away.
I have to manage this with talk therapy and pills that level my moods.

I’m a human being.
I have a mental disorder.

Stop treating me like I’m subhuman.
Help me get to a level of stability and clarity.
I want your help, although I tell you to leave me the hell alone.
I need you to hold me and tell me everything’s going to be alright when I’m at my worst.

I am a human being.
I have a mental disorder.

I deserve love.
I deserve happiness.
I deserve to be treated like an equal.
I deserve life.

I am a human being.
I have a mental disorder.