What it feels like to be bipolar (and work in marketing).

This is technically a blog post about being bipolar more than it is about working in marketing, but I love what I do professionally, so I blended the two.

I’ll also write this in a stream of consciousness (rather than a canned standard SEO) style.

Prerogatives of being your own editor. 😉

First, let me say …

I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for around 3 years.

(I’m not sure how long I’ve technically had it or which type, I or II. I never cared to learn those details, tbh. That’s partly why I’m writing this post, because I want to lend a firsthand perspective, not a physician’s opinion.)

Next, let me say …

I’ve had two manic episodes, or what I’d call severe ones. The kind that sidelined me from work for a few months and then made it hella difficult to catch back up.

I’ve also been on various medications for bipolar and talked about it ad nauseam with psychiatrists and the like.

Lastly, let me say …

I’ve worked in marketing for about 10 years, mostly focusing on SEO but more recently broadening my consulting services to include all organic content (web, social, etc.).

Why does all of that matter?

Well, I want to share my credentials with you first because …

I’d now like to write about what it’s like to live and work with bipolar disorder in marketing.

If that sounds like some weird keyword, “bipolar disorder in marketing,” I can assure you it’s not, haha.

I want to speak to other people with bipolar disorder or their family members or friends to help you/them understand what it’s like.

But again, since I work in marketing, and I love my profession, I tend to frame everything from that lens. 🕶️

First, a personal anecdote …

My wife said something very endearing in the car yesterday … she said, “A lot of smart and creative people who think differently like you have bipolar disorder. It’s what makes you so special.”

I’m paraphrasing her, but there’s truth in that sentiment.

If you dig through my blog, it’s not like anyone else’s SEO blog. The content is different and, I’d argue, more creative than general.

My client work is the same. That’s why I’ve been a standout SEO in my career, I’d argue. 😉

That said, being successful in marketing or SEO means staying on the pulse of the industry, and that takes a lot of work, and I was doing that work unhealthily for a lot of years.

I was drinking at night, using recreational cannabis alongside that, and not taking my medications correctly.

That’s the precursor formula that led to me being hospitalized for two separate manic episodes that happened about two years apart.

There is nothing worse than a mental hospital. My word on that. If you can avoid sending someone there, do it. 👈

Ok, that’s the sob story portion of this, ha. Now I want to give you actionable advice. 🤗

So here are my tips for what it’s like to have bipolar disorder, go through a manic episode, and try to return to normal life …

First thing …

You’re going to do a lot of stupid things that you’ll feel embarrassed by later, and probably a lot more you’ll never remember.

When I get manic, I hear communications that never happen, which leads me to send emails, social posts, or other stuff not based in reality.

Next thing …

People are going to punish you for those stupid things, and some bridges will get burnt.

Doctors are fond of saying, “It’s not your fault. It’s like a diabetic episode. You can only prevent it so much.”

Maybe true, but people will still likely block you, talk some trash, and move on.

It’s human nature, let’s just be real.

Next thing …

Once people learn about what you have or what happened, they’ll understand.

People are generally sympathetic. I’m super grateful to the peers and clients who’ve stuck with me over the years.

Any upset people who didn’t block you will likely feel bad for judging you, or they’ll try to understand you have something. But they likely won’t know anything about it or try to, so don’t expect that.

Again, human nature, and we’re all human!

But hopefully this blog post helps some, ha.

But another thing …

Loved ones matter, a lot.

When it comes down to brass tacks, having loved ones in your corner is what makes the difference.

If it wasn’t for my wife, Dania, and family, I could have easily wound up homeless for a while rather than recovering at home.

It’s really that easy to lose it all, and it’s why I have sympathy for people living on the streets, if I also avoid them.

But another thing still …

Coming back from a manic episode is hard work, and I mean like hard hard work.

Imagine you broke your arm in a football game, and the coach tells you to come back and play the next week. That’s the equivalent of having a severe manic episode and then being asked to return to work right away. (Yes, that happened to me the first time, and it made it way worse.)

Take time off to recover. 👈

And here’s what no one tells you … life sucks afterward because being manic is pretty amazing in some respects.

For people who’ve never had a manic episode but want to understand it, the easiest way is to think of living in a fantasy land of no consequences and then coming back to reality where all your actions now have consequences.

Yeah, it’s rough stuff.

Like I said, take time off to recover.

Which brings me to that marketing part …

This advice could really apply to any job or profession, but I work in marketing so that’s where my mind goes.

Before my last episode, I spent a lot of energy worrying about being liked. Literally. I was on social media a lot, consuming information, trying to build my own brand.

Forget about that nonsense. At least, I have.

It’s not healthy to live that way being bipolar, especially if you feel like an outsider looking in, which I always have in my industry.

Another thing, doctors will tell you to work less and have healthy habits like mindfulness and exercise. Do it!

Stop being lazy (note to self 😉) and take care of yourself first and foremost.

Remember how I said loved ones matter. It’s true.

Having a manic episode is akin to seeing that bright white light in some ways … and it changes your perspective on life, especially for me having a second go around.

Focus on what’s important and forget about what’s not. Rely on family and loved ones for support, and, above all, get healthy.

Don’t rush back to work, don’t stress over other people, and certainly don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Those are my tips!

Until next time, enjoy the vibes:

Thanks for reading. Happy marketing! 🤗