Dear Internet,

March 30^th is World Bipolar Day and I planned on sending this week’s issue on my history of the disease on that day. I was closing in on 2000 words and then I just dumped it all. Sunday, I didn’t feel like writing, so I pushed off this issue to today.

Bipolar is a misunderstood disease and its media treatment is abhorrent. It, and schizophrenia, are the two go-to diseases when someone shoots up, blows up, or is generally evil towards others. Bipolar has a really bad rap and while I have very little issue talking about it plainly, I’ve had people shun me when they found out because of the reputation attached to it. And a lot of ways, I can’t really blame them as I’ve been a raving asshole when my illness goes unchecked. The other thing that kills me is when people self-diagnose themselves as having the disease because they’ve have a rapid mood cycle. There is a lot more to the disease than just a rapid mood cycle and self-diagnosing is harmful to those who actually have the disease.

Keeping that in mind, I thought throwing out facts and figures to better understand the disease might help dispel the negativity surrounding it. Can bipolar be a scary thing? Fuck yes! Especially when you’re in the throes of a manic episode but it can be managed.

• Women in peri or full menopause, and are bipolar, have an increased risk of having bipolar episodes (lucky fucking me!).

• Adolescents as young as 10 can be diagnosed (I was 11 when I had my first manic episode).

• Bipolar episodes can come from environmental or genetic causes or a combination of both.

• Bipolar diagnosis can be managed with therapy and meds but there are many who choose to not manage their illness with either. I, on the other hand, know I will be on meds for the rest of my life and I attend regular therapy sessions.

• Nearly 3% of the population aged 18 and over have bipolar.

• Both assigned male or female at birth can get bipolar and the average age of onset is 25.

• More than 2/3rds of those with bipolar have at least one close relative with the disease. (My grandfather, mother, and possibly an aunt were bipolar.)

• It’s the sixth leading cause of disability in the world.

• One in five with bipolar completes suicide.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is one of the best support groups for those with bipolar. If you have a few bucks, please consider donating to DBSA. Thank you.

For now, and for me, things are relatively good. My heavy depression has lifted, I’m not having manic episodes, and I continue to take my drugs.

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Wonderful Thing

Girls5eva

Produced by Tina Fey and Sara Bareilles, Girls5eva is the story of a one-hit wonder ‘90s/’00s girl group who reform after an up and coming rapper sample one of their songs.

Girls5eva was on my radar for some time but honestly, I don’t remember how or when. What I do recall is I knew it was about the reformation of a ‘90s girl group which is always super cool.

The show is just so damn charming and wholesome. If you dig a middle-age coming of age story, musicals, and plucky heroines, watch Girls5eva on Netflix.

Famous for fun-hundred years,

lisa x