“I Don’t Want a Cure”: Embracing the Complexity of Bipolar Identity
- Natalie Frank
- May 31
- 1 min read
Exploring how bipolar disorder shapes creativity, empathy, and resilience, and why some choose to embrace its complexities rather than seek a complete cure
Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D May 31, 2025
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Living with bipolar disorder often feels like navigating a landscape of extremes, soaring highs and plunging lows. For many, the instinct is to seek a cure, to smooth out the peaks and valleys into a manageable plain. But what if, in the quest to eliminate the disorder, we also risk erasing parts of ourselves that are deeply intertwined with our identity?
This perspective isn’t about romanticizing a serious mental health condition. It’s about acknowledging that, for some, bipolar disorder contributes to facets of their personality they value such as creativity, deep empathy, heightened intuition, and resilience forged through adversity. It’s a controversial stance, challenging the conventional narrative of illness and recovery.
