When some people think of bipolar disorder, they think of crazy. But it isn't crazy. It is like going to a parade to celebrate yourself, it is a beautiful day and nothing could go wrong. Then it starts to rain and suddenly your worst nightmare comes true and the thing you feared the most is at your parade.

1. It is like an endless roller coaster ride.

With depression it is also a roller coaster ride. Some days are good, other not so much. With bipolar disorder, it could be from every half an hour to every hour. One minute your day couldn't be more perfect, and the next it is falling apart.

2. It is so hard to explain.

It is so hard to explain to someone else why you feel the way you do when you don't even understand it yourself.

3. We always try to be OK.

We always don't want you to worry about us so we usually tell you we are fine, but the reality is there is more going on in our heads than we can process.

4. We smile even if it seems inappropriate.

On the outside we are OK, but on the inside our brains keep telling us what is wrong, what could go wrong and what other people should think of us.

5. Suicidal thoughts are normal.

Being a burden to someone is our biggest fear, so most of the time we attempt to cope with these feelings by ourselves. The last thing we want is to bring someone else down with us, so sometimes we think that people would be better off without us.

6. We just want to be loved.

We tend to feel like we are not good enough to love or feel that someone can care for us, what we need is to know that we are not worthless, and that we are capable of being loved.

7.Sometimes giving up seems easier.

Sometimes we find a simple task, like getting out of bed, difficult. sleeping sometimes seems much easier.

8. Depression/Anxiety/ Bipolar.

For some people along with bipolar disorder comes depression or anxiety or some other mental illness.

9. Pain times ten.

Pain for us is much more unbearable usually because we tend to keep everything inside, and when we finally break it is a complete breakdown.

10. Change is scary.

For someone with bipolar disorder change is a scary thing, only because of the constant change in our brains.

Like most mental illness, bipolar disorder is something that is hard to explain even to those who have it. Regardless of it all there are ways to live with it and continue to have a happy life. All it takes is a little help, some friends and a constant reminder that we are good enough to be loved and that we are not worthless.

And just a reminder: recovery is a long road, but it doesn't mean you can't get there