Sometimes friends made assumptions that someone with Bipolar is just somebody who blows up at any moment and is "happy then sad" all in one day, rather than understanding episodes. I asked them if they knew what mania is to shed light on what Bipolar really is, and they looked at me clueless, so I educated them. At least the few friends I actually listened, but sometimes they still believe the stereotypes that are being spoon fed to them.

It bothers me a lot when people do not take me seriously when I really make an effort to appear that I am having a good time, and they do not understand when I can't help it. The one thing that really bugs me: people constantly thinking there must be a situation that is upsetting me, and that's why I'm depressed, when it's really just an episode. I know it's harmless, but the thing is, it doesn't get through their head when I keep trying to reiterate and explain what it truly means to have Bipolar depression. The mania: super embarrassing, but I kind of stopped caring. Almost.

People will play therapist with me, thinking it must be "this or that" when I'm depressed, but it's not. They think depression automatically means you are just unhappy about something and that's it. I know a lot of people aren't coming from a place of hate or wanting to be intentionally judgmental, but I've encountered a lot of close mindedness, nevertheless. Sometimes it is overt (like my mother, who seems to just see it as a sign of weakness), and other times it's more discreet.