Being bipolar has its ups and downs. For most of my life I’ve concealed the downs, presenting what I thought was a polished, impenetrable exterior that exuded confidence, desirability and success. Maintaining that façade was exhausting.

Those around me noticed my aloof withdrawn state. Some interpreted it as me being cold and disinterested. Some were concerned. These depressive-anxious episodes typically started in August and ran through to March. I would become the ‘other’ more outgoing, creative and energetic Jon during the Spring and Summer months. These cycles have really f***ed with my MBTI scores over the years.

I’m optimistically using the past tense when I refer to the depressive episodes because so far, this year is different. It’s November 1st tomorrow, and I’m not depressed. I put this down to therapy, meds and lifestyle changes (Lamotrigine appears to be a wonder drug for me). It would be naïve to assume that the dark clouds have gone away forever. The photos on this page were taken two days ago. I am confident though that I’m getting better at keeping the dark times at bay and dealing with them more effectively when they do come around.

Being open and authentic has really helped me to heal and grow. I hope others reading this may feel encouraged to open up too. You’re not alone.

If any of this is relatable and you want to talk, please reach out, Love, Jon x