My life for the past 7 years has been nothing short of a wild roller coaster. In 2008, at the age of 13, during my 7th grade year I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 with ADD/HD. it was always evident to people close to me that there was something different about me, even though it was never discussed. By the end of of the first quarter of my 7th grade year my bipolar was in full swing enough for me to be hospitalized in a mental faulty. I was exposed to many horrors of mental illnesses that most kids my age had no idea about. That was just the beginning of my insane journey of fight for stability, relationships, schooling, stigma, and my life. I've had one full suicide attempt at 14 and 6 hospitalizations. Plus many more things in between. 
My teenage years, although they appear to be, were anything but normal. I kept so many stories hidden from my friends and even parents, in fear they would stop being apart of my life because of lack of understanding. My life is like a roller coaster, with constant up, downs, and swirls. And although how many times you ride the coaster, you still are shocked by the pattern it takes you on.
I understand my journey with bipolar disorder is not over, nor will it ever be. I tell people I’m like a recovering alcoholic, I’ll always be learning to accept my condition and how to cope. In the end, I consider myself as someone who is extremely lucky not blessed. It was pure luck. When I look back at all the events and things I’ve done its amazing I made it out alive.  It’s incredible I never died from my suicide attempt, arrested for dealing and doing hard drugs, was raped more times than I have been, lost more friends, ended up homeless, got caught with illegal activity, ended up pregnant, or even at some points got shot. And I’m positive there are 100 more things I got away with that I’m just to smug to realize. Bipolar itself is not crazy, its the journey bipolar leads you on that is absolutely insane.