Great Hippocrates Quote for Bipolar

I came across this great quote by Hippocrates the other day that I really like: "It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has." I think it really speaks to the stigma that unfortunately still surrounds mental illness in general and bipolar disorder specifically.

My husband and I were talking the other day about disabilities, and about how bipolar disorder is a hidden disability, but that doesn't make it any less a disability. We still struggle in the same way someone with, say, a neurological disorder might. I know, because my husband has a degenerative neurological disorder in his legs that is gradually causing a loss of function in them.

Right now he is down to having to use arm crutches to use his legs, and eventually will probably have to use a wheelchair. When we see someone use arm crutches or in a wheelchair, we obviously see that they have a disability, and we accept that.

But when someone has bipolar disorder, we can't see it as readily. And we would hope that their behavior wouldn't reflect it, either, because if they are stable, they shouldn't be showing any signs or symptoms that they even have the disorder. So, like I was saying, it's a hidden disability.

That's why I like that quote by Hippocrates so much: That it's more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.

If a person is stable with their bipolar, you can get to know them as a person first, and a person with bipolar disorder second. The disorder will not interfere with their personality and who they are in their own right.

You remember how I'm always preaching about how you have to separate yourself from your disorder, that you are NOT your disorder, right? That your identity is separate from your bipolar disorder, and that's an important distinction to make and to remember at all times.

You are only as disabled as you feel. In fact, I've seen it written as DISabled and disABLED. I like that. It really shows the distinction. I consider myself disABLED. I am stable, I am working part-time and have been doing so for over 5 years, I can drive (many people with bipolar disorder can't, so I don't take it for granted, as there was a time when I couldn't, either), and I live a simple, peaceful, successful, good life.

That says a lot for someone with as bad a case of bipolar disorder as I have, rapid cycler, etc. But I have been episode-free for quite awhile now, and grateful for it. But the stability that I have was hard fought-for, and took a long time to get. It just took doing the things I needed to do (medication, therapy, etc.) consistently over a period of time, and NOT giving up! I HAD to believe that someday I would recover, that stability was a possibility.

I know how bad a case I was. And yet I was able to achieve stability, sobriety, and serenity. So I have to believe that if I was able to do it, then you can, too. Just don't give up. It does get better over time.

Remember to check out my new bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com

Wishing you peace and stability,

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele