In today’s climate, the average person experiences an array of emotions throughout the day that might contradict each other. Jobs are demanding, parenthood is exhausting, connecting with others is harder than ever, and with the influx of subliminal messaging from social media about what your life should look like, our minds are overloaded with way more information than a healthy brain is likely intended to consume. This, unsurprisingly, all creates a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of mental health issues to arise. In fact, according to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 20% of American adults (50+ million people) experience some type of mental illness annually, and that’s just what’s been reported — we all have family members who refuse to see mental health practitioners that undoubtedly suffer from some sort of mood or personality disorder. I’d say it’s more like 50%, based on the sample size I see in everyday life. With that being said, some mental illnesses remain more stigmatized than others. Bipolar disorder is one of them. It is a commonly misunderstood condition, with people casually weaponizing it in everyday life to label someone’s change in mood or feelings.

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