Adjusting to a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and MORE OR LESS MADDY by Lisa Genova
- Marisa Gelfand
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Maddy felt like she had it together. She did well in high school and was well-adjusted.
College threw curveballs. As a freshman, she was resilient and managed to navigate the turbulence. Sophomore year, though, Maddy had a depressive episode that prevented her from completing her school work. She was prescribed antidepressants. At first, they seemed to work. Her academics improved, and she felt more in control. In retrospect, it was hypomania.
Then Maddy became manic; she thought she was Taylor Swift’s biographer, spent loads of money, and hooked up with strangers. Her behavior provoked a mental health hospitalization.
Maddy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and began medication, therapy, and behavioral changes. Adjusting to her new reality was challenging. It took multiple cycles of depression, mania, and hospitalizations for Maddy to come to terms with coexisting with bipolar disorder.
A diagnosis of bipolar disorder provokes a flood of feelings. Numbness, fear, relief, worry, and the sense that things finally make sense are all normal. Living with bipolar disorder, while not easy, is manageable with the help of the right supports, resources, and skills.
Here are tools for adjusting to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Believe it’s Going to Be OK: It is a myth that bipolar disorder is cataclysmically life-altering. Truly, it is entirely reasonable to believe you can achieve stability through a mix of medication, therapy, and behavioral changes.
Tell Your People: Friendship, love, accountability, and support will help you achieve and maintain wellness. No one can adequately help you without the pertinent info. Help them help you by being honest with close friends and family about the diagnosis.
Identify Your Triggers: Common triggers include alcohol or substance use, lack of sleep, skipping medications, relationship changes, stress, and arguing with family and friends. Avoid these triggers and, for any that can’t be avoided, pre-plan a healthy response.
Learn More to Help with Acceptance: Knowledge is power. Read about bipolar disorder from a well-researched source like More or Less Maddy, An Unquiet Mind, and The International Bipolar Foundation.
