The Benefits of Friends with Bipolar

Hello from Utah’s stunning Zion National Park! I’ve been travelling across the American Southwest with a dear friend this week. Before arriving at Zion, we hit Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell—all in just five days. In short, it’s been a busy and eventful week, and part of the reason we’ve been able to pack so much into so little time has been thanks to the fact that we share a lot of the same philosophies on travel, not to mention highly similar personalities. And oh yeah, we both have bipolar disorder.

Throughout the trip, I’ve been begging her to slow down and chill out, to stop talking so much and so fast, to stop multi-tasking, and to let me get a word in edgewise. In effect, I’ve been asking her to do what other people are constantly asking me to do. When I’m with her, I realize what it’s like for other people to be around me sometimes, and for a brief moment, I understand why it is that others might prefer that I reduce the speed and intensity of my words, thoughts and actions.

Still, there’s something ridiculously refreshing about not having to slow down for someone else and having someone in your life who understands what it’s like to have the rest of the world constantly asking you to adjust your speed and volume to conform to “normal” levels.

This trip has been wonderful and extraordinary, not just because of the unmatched natural beauty, but also because of the company we’ve kept along the way. No canyon, river or lake could be half as beautiful as a true friend who knows and gets where you’re coming from.

Do you have a friend living with bipolar disorder?

Let us know about your relationship and any relationship tips you may have gathered by leaving a comment below!