Being bipolar is not always as fun as people think it is. While you do get the occasional romp of freedom, or the chance to spend your money outrageously, the consequences are always there to face you when you get back to your normal every day self. And, when you're in a depressed state, it's the absolute worst. There's absolutely no worse feeling than being stuck in your pajamas, unable to think clearly or motivate yourself because you are so loaded down with meds that it's impossible to deal with the "real world" in more than small doses.

I have, however, somehow managed to find a few silver linings in the clouds. OK, it's definitely not as easy in the cold, dark rainy days of a Seattle winter, but hopefully I"ll remember my positive thoughts should my thoughts turn dark again.

1. Bipolar people have the ability to experience incredible highs and lows. That means I've had the amazing experience of knowing myself at all sides of the spectrum. While some people merely feel euphoric, I've literally felt "high on life" in a way that normal people have to take a ton of drugs to feel. {Please note that I am not recommending either mania or tons of drugs.]

2. I believe (and this might sound crazy, which is definitely par for the course for a Bipolar person) that I've reached a deeper understanding of not only myself, but the world around me and have had the flexibility to adjust my "world vision" as I've learned from my experiences.

3. I have better stories to tell than most people I know. Not everyone sets out on a quest to save the world and fails in three days running. Usually, you have to play Dungeons and Dragons, become Don Quixote, or become the President of the US in order to do that. I just had to get manic.

4. I think everyone has something inside of them that makes them different and special. While I am an absolute nightmare at times for the people around me, and my life hasn't been the easiest, I think Bipolar Disorder gives me an internal edge for being interesting, if to no one else but my own dorky self. For better or worse, it's what makes me me.

5. And finally, when I want to cheer myself up, I can remember the stupid things I've done while I was manic like when I thought "Secret Deoderant" contained the Secret to life. This way, I can reflect on how much farther I've come since then.