People don’t argue when you say paraplegia is a disability, but when you say your bipolar disorder is, people often do argue. This is in spite of the fact that, legally, bipolar disorder is a real disability in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. So what is a “real” disability and why don’t people think bipolar is a real disability?
What’s a ‘Real’ Disability?
In case you’re wondering, “disability” is defined as:
a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person’s ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily activities and interactions
That’s a dictionary definition, and not a legal one, (as legal ones get complex) but the short of it is this: a disability is an imposed limitation that keeps you from living the way other people do. (And in the case of a legal disability, this interruption in daily activities is profound.)
And as you may have noticed, “mental, cognitive, or developmental” conditions are right there in the definition. And yet, people still don’t think bipolar disorder is a real disability.
‘Real’ Disabilities Should Be Seen and Not Thought
One of the problems with bipolar disorder is that it’s an invisible illness. People often can’t see how sick a person is with bipolar disorder and so people fail to realize that it exists at all. When the person standing next to you is blind, that disability is obvious thanks to a white cane. When the person standing next to you has bipolar disorder, that disability is invisible — but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
But, of course, many invisible medical conditions can be disabilities. For example, few people would argue that constant migraines weren’t a disability, and yet they are completely invisible (in scans and to the average person).
‘Physical’ Disabilities and a Bipolar Disorder Disability
The second problem is that many people only think of disabilities as “physical” limitations. Again, a missing arm is obviously a physical disability and no one denies that.
The thing is, serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder are physical too. The scientific evidence of this is beyond the scope of this article, but here’s what I can tell you in a nutshell: a bipolar brain is not the same as a non-bipolar brain. While we cannot definitively diagnose bipolar disorder via scan just yet, physical differences in bipolar brains can be seen on scans.
In other words, a bipolar disorder disability is a physical disability — is a disability of the brain. We would recognize this brain disability if the brain had been changed in an accident and there’s no reason not to recognize it just because people were born with it instead of being victims of trauma after being born.
A ‘Real’ Bipolar Disorder Disability
But even if none of that convinces you, you should understand this: bipolar disorder is certainly is a “condition that limits a person’s ability to participate in daily activities.”
In fact, I can’t tell you the number of “daily activities” that are limited by my bipolar disorder. Everything from major things like working for a living to tiny things like showering are dramatically impacted by my illness. Every day is impacted by my bipolar disorder disability. I am in no way exaggerating when I say that.
Why Does It Matter that Bipolar Disorder Is a ‘Real’ Disability?
On the one hand, I don’t care whether you recognize that bipolar disorder is a real disability. I know that it is, and I’m the one being impacted by it, and that’s what matters.
On the other hand, it’s critical that society and individuals recognize a bipolar disorder disability so that people with bipolar disorder know it’s okay to be disabled by this serious mental illness. It’s not them, and it’s not their fault. No one cuts off a leg to get a disability designation and no one gets bipolar disorder for that reason either. Everyone with a disability is unlucky — not inherently flawed.
And by recognizing that bipolar disorder is a real disability, we become part of the larger disability community and start to recognize that we have the same rights as everyone else. For example, no one should not be hired because they are in a wheelchair if they can do the job. All they may need is some accommodation to do it. The same is true with a mental illness disability. If I can do the job with reasonable accommodation, then I should be hired if I’m the most qualified candidate.
In short, recognizing bipolar disorder as a real disability can be part of regaining our self-worth and taking control of our future. It’s healthy. It reinforces the notion that bipolar disorder is not a moral failing or character flaw — it’s a physical disability that exists alongside chronic illnesses like epilepsy and migraines. We are not alone and there is nothing wrong with us.
Image under Creative Commons License from here.
Thanks for another good article, Natasha. I’ve had an “invisible” illness (SEID) since 1989, so I understand the frustration when people say that I look perfectly healthy. Having bipolar disorder II helped a little, as far as “legitimate disease”, but also added to the frustration. I now have COPD and a lot of people say “Oh, I have that, too!” Still frustrating, but now I’m 65 and am getting retirement pay, so I just say that I’m retired now. lol
Absolutely! It is indeed a real disability, disorder, condition, or whatever we like to call it. I like your website much, and will certainly come back to read more. Keep up the great work!
Yes it is…I’m receiving SSDI benefits, of which I got within 3 months, after applying. But, there was consolation prize, that made it made it un-invisible. At least, to those, who weren’t so convinced, that I was disabled at all. I knew better. Something happened 3 years later, that I believe there’s a correlation. I was diagnosed with MS.
My theory, at least part of it, as to why I got my disability benefits, were expedited. I worked at my local Electric-Power Utility company for 27 years, driving in traffic and working around electricity, sometimes…hands on, and very shaky hands. 17 of those 27 years. I was working after being diagnosed as Bi-polar (1) Manic Affective and functioning on Thyroid medication, Lithium, Wellbutrin. It was my employer, who had me hospitalized. I only made one return to the mental hospital, while employed here. I drove myself there, as I was having suicidal thoughts, that were caused by a couple of circumstantial things were compounded.
Aside, from that, there were obstacles, hurdles and challenges constantly. Although, you would think there would be a degree of confidentiality. But when your employer, as well as, the union representing me were involved. Things were leaked out and you become a source of gossip. If anyone wants to talk about stigma. Being bullied, harassed, made fun of…or trying to make a living. I was eventually terminated, after being the 2nd most senior employee in the department I worked in: Same job, same duties since I was 20 years old…I had already was vested when I got diagnosed. Things changed. I never asked for one accommodation. I was victimized due to circumstances, and as a result of working around the ignorant and the prejudiced. The IBEW workers union, were no help to me as a dues-paying, career member. I later learned that from a reliable source, that were a party in cooperation with the company, to my termination.
I have some valuable experience, filing EEOC/ ADA charges of discrimination and what happens with that
As always, Natasha, your articles are accurate and your information is spot on. Today, the new info was that the Medical definition for disability differs from the Legal definition. I’d bet many of us wouldn’t know about that.
It would certainly be helpful if our bipolar turned our ears blue during a depressive episode, and orange during a manic episode. But bipolar is a jerk and won’t help us.
Thanks again!
~Pat
Dear Natasha, thank you for your article. I would like to leave a comment. I live in Kazakhstan (Central Asia, South-eastern part of the former Soviet Union) and I have bipolar disorder type II. I am an interpreter and used to do both translation and interpretation. Currently, i cannot work and have not worked for the last 15 months. In my country, legally bipolar disorder is an illness, however, it is not a disability unlike, for instance, in France where people with bipolar disorder receive pension or allowance from the government as well as free medical treatment and medications. I know quite enough people with the same illness who cannot work and we all survive thanks to the help of our families (or in my case, my parents and my boyfriend). I just thought you might be interested to know how things are with bipolar disorder in other countries.