End Stigma: I am not my illness

Bipolar disorder is a major part of my life

I cannot let certain people know

If my job knew,

They may search for a reason to fire me

I would be considered a liability

If a school I applied to knew,

They may think I cannot keep up with the course work

I would be set up for failure

If my peers knew,

They may think of me as weak

I would not make new friends

If outsiders knew,

They may think I am unable to be self-sufficient

I would not be taken seriously

These people are WRONG

I am NOT a liability

I am reliable

I am NOT a failure

I am serious about my education

I am NOT weak

I am strong

I am self-sufficient

I am worth being taken seriously

I am proactive in reaching my goals

I am capable of life

I will never give up hope