More than once I've been encouraged by my psychiatrist that there is a gift in having this disorder, and I think to some degree he is right. The problem is that it seems to come at a high cost and we have to face a large amount of turmoil to be able to embrace it.

The biggest part I have noticed is that we tend to have a creative edge that others cannot reach. Art and creative writing have come very natural to me and I have had times when I have wowed people without trying too hard, simply by thinking differently. Of course it is usually when I am on the higher side of things. I think bipolar people have a tremendous amount of insight and reflection and it seems to fuel this idea. I think it can be a tool if we can control it.