Bipolar - Sarah's story

“Do I need a sign on my head to show that I, unfortunately, have a hidden disability?”

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. Most people with bipolar disorder experience alternating episodes of mania and depression – Bipolar UK.

After her bipolar disorder went undiagnosed for more than 20 years, Sarah Peers, Apprentice Emergency Medical Technician, wants to share her experience to raise awareness of mental health conditions.

Around one in every 100 people will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder at some point in their life and although it can occur at any age, it often develops between the ages of 15 and 19*. For Sarah, her diagnosis came at the age of 35, two decades after she believes she developed the condition. She explained: “I got my diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2012. My psychiatrist said that he thought I had had this condition since I was 13 years old, but I had not been offered any help. I had gone under the radar.”

Sarah’s diagnosis journey was a long one. She said: “Before diagnosis, I was very up and down in my mood and was being treated solely for depression. When I first sought help from my doctors, I went through six weeks of counselling before I was referred for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).”

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.

Sarah continued: “Whilst undergoing CBT, I kept a mood diary as requested by the clinician. When she read it, she suggested that there was a lot more than depression going on with me. She referred me to Leigh Infirmary Mental Health Unit where I saw a care coordinator every week and had regular meetings with a psychiatrist. I was also visited by the crisis team daily as I was suffering suicidal thoughts.”

Sarah was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed medication to help her manage day-today life. She said: “It took over a year to get a medication balance which was suitable for me but going to the gym, outdoor walking, and having hobbies helped to keep my mind occupied in a positive way to release good endorphins.

“Today, I’m a different person from when I was poorly. When I look back, I do not recognise the person that I was. Nowadays I’m stable, I still take medication and don’t have episodes anymore. I’ve not been under the mental health service for many years as I self-manage my condition. I still have low days, but we all do, it’s normal.”

Sarah knows the importance of raising awareness of mental health conditions. Not only can it help other people going through similar situations, but it also helps educate people. Sarah explained: “I’ve had discrimination due to having bipolar disorder and had comments such as “I wouldn’t have thought you had bipolar?” Do I need a sign on my head to show that I, unfortunately, have this hidden disability? I also have been told “chin up”, to what purpose does that comment serve?”

Sarah, who joined NWAS in July last year, now champions hidden disabilities and has joined our staff Disability Network to use her experience to help others. She said: “I believe more people need to speak out, maybe we can help or even save someone by just talking and listening. I know our lives are busy and we don’t have enough time in the day, but we do need time for ourselves as well as others. Good mental health is paramount for life.”

*www.nhs.uk