Bipolar and Stigma
- Mar 12
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 13
A discussion with our Penumbra peer workers on the stigma around bipolar
March Meeting: Bipolar & Stigma
Our recent all ages meeting included a lovely presentation led by Mary Anne and Gregor from Penumbra about the stigma that often surrounds bipolar.
Stigma is the negative beliefs commonly held about a group of people because they are different. People with bipolar can face stigma externally at work and in relationships, but also internally through our own negative beliefs about ourselves.
External stigma is commonly experienced through stereotypes, discrimination, and misguided use of language, like using the term bipolar to describe indecisiveness or capriciousness rather than the actual medical condition. But for many of us, it is the internal or self stigma that can be the most painful and strongly contribute to feelings of shame.
The meeting left space to discuss our experiences and possible ways of managing the stigma we face. Below is the summary of the meeting provided by Gregor:
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Group Discussion Point One: What are some of the misconceptions about Bipolar?
Misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder are widespread and often distort how the condition actually presents in real life. Many of these myths come from media portrayals or confusion with normal mood fluctuations.
Below are some of the most common misunderstandings we discussed and the clinical reality behind them. We recognise that bipolar can be different for everyone and the comments below are from the group on what they have experienced.
"Others beliefs"
"Stereotyping"
"Prejudice"
"Unstable"
"Not reliable"
"Weak"
"Aggressive"
"Loud"
"Sometimes gender focussed"
"Scared"
"Unpredictable"
"Don’t understand mania"
"Having to prove yourself"
"Medication/Type/Symptoms"
1. “Bipolar just means mood swings”
Misconception: People think bipolar disorder simply means someone changes mood quickly (happy → sad → angry).
Reality: Bipolar disorder involves distinct mood episodes that last days, weeks, or months. These include:
Depressive episodes – low mood, fatigue, loss of motivation.
Manic episodes – elevated mood, increased energy, reduced need for sleep.
Hypomanic episodes – milder mania (common in Bipolar II).
These are not moment-to-moment mood changes; they are sustained shifts in brain state.
2. “Everyone with bipolar has extreme mania”
Misconception: People assume bipolar always involves dramatic manic behaviour.
Reality: There are several types:
Bipolar I Disorder – full manic episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder – hypomania plus depression (no full mania).
Cyclothymia – chronic fluctuating moods.
Many people with Bipolar II appear high-functioning, and their hypomania may be mistaken for productivity or confidence.
3. “People with bipolar are unstable or dangerous”
Misconception: A stereotype that individuals with bipolar are unpredictable or unsafe.
Reality: Most people with bipolar are not violent. Research consistently shows they are far more likely to be harmed or stigmatised than to harm others. The bigger challenge is internal suffering, especially during depressive episodes.
4. “Medication completely fixes bipolar”
Misconception: If someone is taking medication, they should be “cured.”
Reality: Bipolar is generally a long-term mood regulation condition. Treatment usually includes:
Mood stabilising medication
Sleep regulation
Therapy (e.g., CBT or psychoeducation)
Lifestyle structure
Medication helps stabilise mood swings, but management usually requires multiple strategies.
5. “Mania is always enjoyable”
Misconception: Mania or hypomania is sometimes romanticised as a creative or energetic superpower.
Reality: While early hypomania can feel productive, it often escalates into:
impulsive decisions
financial risk-taking
reduced sleep
irritability or agitation
Many people later regret decisions made during episodes.
6. “People with bipolar can’t succeed professionally”
Misconception: Bipolar disorder prevents stable careers.
Reality: Many successful people live with bipolar disorder, including academics, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Stability often comes from structure, awareness of triggers, and treatment.
7. “Depression is the main issue, mania is the big danger”
Misconception: Public attention focuses on mania.
Reality: For many people—especially with Bipolar II—depression is the most disabling and longest-lasting part of the condition.
8. “You can tell if someone has bipolar”
Misconception: People think the symptoms are obvious.
Reality: Many individuals manage their condition privately and may appear completely typical externally. Diagnosis often takes years because symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions.
💡 Important point: Bipolar disorder is fundamentally a biological mood regulation condition involving brain chemistry, circadian rhythm, and genetics—not simply a personality trait or emotional weakness.
Group Discussion Point Two: How can we manage workplace stigma?
Workplace stigma around Bipolar Disorder (and mental health conditions generally) is usually driven by misunderstanding, fear, and assumptions about reliability or behaviour. Managing it effectively requires action at three levels:
Individual Level - Creating the right environment through either the employer, line manager, HR, or ourselves as the individual with Bipolar
Colleagues/Managers Level - Spotting stigma at work and raising this with the relevant people (if comfortable professionally challenging conditions).
Organisation Level - Encouraging education on mental health in the workplace
1. Increase Understanding (Education)
Stigma thrives when people do not understand the condition.
Actions
Provide short workplace mental-health training sessions.
Share simple explanations of mood disorders.
Clarify differences between mania, hypomania, and depression.
Emphasise that treatment allows people to function effectively.
Why it works - Education reduces stereotypes like:
“Unstable”
“Unpredictable”
“Not reliable”
Many studies show that contact + education reduces stigma significantly.
2. Challenge Stereotypes Directly
Misconceptions should be openly addressed rather than ignored. Structured discussions or myth-vs-fact sessions work well in teams.
Examples of reframing common beliefs:
Stigma | Evidence-based reality |
Unstable | Most people with bipolar have long periods of stability |
Dangerous | Violence risk is not higher than the general population |
Not reliable | Many people maintain successful careers |
Weak | Bipolar is a biological mood regulation condition |
3. Encourage Safe Disclosure Environments
Many employees fear discrimination if they disclose a condition.
Helpful practices include:
Confidential conversations with HR or managers
Clear mental-health policies
Non-punitive responses to disclosure
Peer support networks
Importantly, disclosure should always remain the employee’s choice.
4. Implement Reasonable Adjustments
Under UK law (particularly the Equality Act 2010), bipolar disorder may qualify as a disability when it substantially affects daily functioning.
Reasonable workplace adjustments might include:
Flexible working hours
Predictable schedules
Reduced night shifts
Temporary workload adjustments during episodes
Quiet workspaces
These changes often increase productivity and retention.
5. Train Managers in Mental Health Literacy
Managers are often the first point of contact when issues arise.
Training should include:
recognising early warning signs
responding without judgement
supporting return-to-work after episodes
maintaining confidentiality
Managers who understand mood disorders tend to reduce team stigma significantly.
6. Promote Strength-Based Perspectives
Focusing only on illness reinforces stigma.
Many people with bipolar also demonstrate:
strong creativity
high problem-solving ability
resilience
empathy and insight
Shifting from “risk management” to “strength recognition” improves workplace culture.
7. Use Visible Leadership Support
When senior leaders openly support mental health initiatives:
stigma decreases
employees feel safer
policies are taken seriously
This can include:
leadership statements
mental-health awareness campaigns
staff wellbeing programmes
💡 Key insight from research: The most effective anti-stigma strategies combine:
Education
Direct contact with lived experience
Organisational policy change
Group Discussion Point Three: How can we manage stigma with relationships (family, friends, partners)?
Stigma in personal relationships—with family, friends, or partners—often comes from fear, misunderstanding, or past experiences during mood episodes. Managing it requires a balance of education, communication, boundaries, and self-advocacy. For people living with Bipolar Disorder, relationship stigma can be particularly difficult because others may misinterpret symptoms as personality traits rather than a health condition.
"Being honest"
"Being selective who we tell and how much we share"
"Using the Bipolar Mood Scale can help"
1. Educate Close People About the Condition
Many family members and partners simply do not understand bipolar disorder.
Helpful approaches:
Explain the difference between depression, hypomania, and mania.
Share credible resources or short videos.
Describe how symptoms feel from your perspective.
Example explanation:
“It’s not just mood swings—episodes affect sleep, energy, thinking, and behaviour.”
Understanding reduces labels such as:
“unpredictable”
“dramatic”
“lazy”
“difficult”
2. Share Early Warning Signs
People close to you often want to help but don’t know what to look for.
Examples of warning signs you could share:
Possible hypomania signs
sleeping less
increased ideas or talking
taking on too many projects
Possible depression signs
withdrawing socially
low energy
difficulty concentrating
This helps partners or family recognise symptoms early rather than judging behaviour.
3. Use Open Communication
Misinterpretation is a major cause of stigma in relationships.
Helpful communication techniques:
explain what you need during difficult periods
describe triggers such as sleep disruption or stress
check in regularly about how things are going
Example:
“If you notice I’m sleeping very little, it helps if you gently point it out.”
4. Set Boundaries Around Harmful Comments
Even well-meaning people sometimes say stigmatising things.
Examples:
“You’re just being dramatic”
“Everyone has mood swings”
“Just think positive”
It is reasonable to respond calmly but clearly:
“That comment isn’t helpful. Bipolar is a medical condition and I’m managing it with treatment.”
Healthy boundaries protect relationships without escalating conflict.
5. Involve Trusted People in Support Plans
Partners or close friends can sometimes help with stability.
Examples:
encouraging regular sleep routines
helping monitor stress levels
supporting medication adherence
This works best when support is collaborative rather than controlling.
6. Address Relationship Fears Directly
Partners sometimes worry about:
reliability
emotional intensity
long-term stability
Honest conversations can reduce these fears.
Topics to discuss:
treatment plans
coping strategies
what stability looks like for you
Many people with bipolar maintain healthy long-term relationships when communication is strong.
7. Recognise When Relationships Are Stigmatising
Unfortunately, some relationships reinforce stigma through:
constant criticism
dismissing the condition
blaming symptoms
In those cases, it may be necessary to:
limit certain discussions
seek external support (therapy, peer groups)
reconsider relationship boundaries
Protecting mental health is essential.
8. Encourage Empathy Through Personal Stories
Facts help, but stories create understanding.
Share experiences like:
how depression feels internally
how hypomania affects thinking
how treatment helps
This can help others move from judgement to empathy.
💡 One important insight from relationship psychology: Stigma often decreases when people see the difference between the person and the illness.
Group Discussion Point Four: Why do we experience self-stigma and how can we manage it?
Self-stigma occurs when a person internalises negative stereotypes about a condition and begins to apply them to themselves. This is common with mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder and can affect confidence, identity, and willingness to seek support.
Why Self-Stigma Happens
1. Internalising Social Messages
When someone repeatedly hears messages like:
“People with bipolar are unstable”
“Mental illness means weakness”
“You can’t be trusted”
those beliefs can gradually become internalised.
Instead of: “People think bipolar is unstable”
It becomes: “Maybe I am unstable”
2. Identity Threat
A diagnosis can challenge how someone sees themselves.
People may think:
“Who am I now?”
“Will people see me differently?”
“Am I capable?”
This identity shift can lead to feelings of shame or self-doubt.
3. Past Experiences of Stigma
Negative experiences with:
employers
friends
family
healthcare systems
can reinforce internal beliefs that something is wrong with you as a person, rather than recognising it as a health condition.
4. Comparison With Others
People often compare themselves to others who appear to function easily.
This can lead to thoughts like:
“Everyone else copes better”
“I should be able to control this”
These comparisons can increase self-criticism.
5. Cultural Narratives About Mental Illness
Society often frames mental illness as:
weakness
lack of discipline
personality flaws
When these narratives are absorbed, people can begin judging themselves harshly.
How to Manage Self-Stigma
1. Separate the Person From the Condition
A key strategy is recognising:
You are not the illness.
Instead of:
“I’m unstable”
Reframe to:
“I experience mood episodes that I’m learning to manage.”
Language changes how identity is shaped.
2. Challenge Internal Beliefs
Self-stigma often relies on unquestioned assumptions.
Ask yourself:
Where did this belief come from?
Is there evidence against it?
Would I say this to someone else with the same condition?
Often the belief does not hold up when examined.
3. Develop Self-Compassion
Research shows that self-compassion reduces shame and stigma.
Helpful practices include:
treating yourself with the same kindness you would show a friend
acknowledging that many people struggle with similar challenges
recognising that setbacks are part of recovery
4. Connect With Others With Lived Experience
Peer support is one of the most powerful anti-stigma tools.
Benefits include:
normalising experiences
learning coping strategies
seeing examples of people living well with bipolar
It counters the feeling of being alone or “different.”
5. Focus on Strengths and Identity Beyond Diagnosis
Self-stigma shrinks when identity becomes broader than the illness.
Important identity anchors might include:
work or purpose
relationships
hobbies
personal values
achievements
You are far more than a diagnosis.
6. Recognise Progress
Self-stigma often focuses on perceived failures.
Instead, track:
improved routines
managing symptoms better
asking for help when needed
personal growth
Recognising progress reinforces competence rather than shame.
7. Speak Openly When It Feels Safe
Talking about mental health in supportive environments can:
reduce shame
challenge stereotypes
empower others
However, disclosure should always be a personal choice.
💡 Key psychological insight: Self-stigma usually follows a pattern:
Public stigma (society’s stereotypes)
Internalisation (“maybe they’re right”)
Self-stigma (shame, reduced self-confidence)
Breaking the cycle requires challenging beliefs and building a stronger, more compassionate self-identity.
Ending on a Positive Note
Despite the challenges around stigma, there are many reasons to feel hopeful about the future of bipolar awareness and support. There is currently a huge amount of research happening into bipolar disorder, with scientists and clinicians working to better understand mood regulation, treatments, and early interventions. Every year, new studies are helping us move closer to more effective support and better outcomes for people living with bipolar.
The growing interest and engagement in the community is also encouraging. At the recent Bipolar Scotland conference, the room was packed, showing just how many people—professionals, researchers, families, and people with lived experience—are committed to improving, understanding, and reducing stigma.
We are also seeing national awareness efforts gain momentum. Bipolar UK recently launched the Maybe it’s bipolar? campaign, helping people recognise symptoms earlier and encouraging open conversations about bipolar disorder.
These developments show something important:
People are talking more, learning more, and challenging stigma more than ever before.
And that means things are moving in the right direction.
Every conversation, every piece of research, and every person who shares their experience helps build a world where bipolar is better understood and where people can live openly, confidently, and with support.
Progress is happening—and we are part of that progress.
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Thank you again to our peer workers Mary Anne and Gregor for leading such a wonderful community discussion! You can download their presentation below.
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