bipolar poemAll Poetry

The Diagnosis [a poem]

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By Brandon Koebernik | Featured Contributor

Mom was schizophrenic.
Dad was bipolar.
What could I get from it?
I found out as I got older.

It started when I joined the military,
Army National Guard.
I don’t believe I was wary,
Of how things could get so hard.

A lot of time had passed.
I started noticing changes,
To the point where I wore a mask,
To hide all of the passing phases.

I’m fine, I’ll get over it.
Or so I thought.
So often I wanted to quit,
Stressful situations left me distraught.

I was depressed and angry,
Outbursts cost me friendships.
Seeking help wasn’t very manly,
So I kept taking the hits.

I woke up questioning myself,
What is my purpose?
Am I meant to rot on a shelf?
Why do I feel so worthless?

If you could weaponize tears,
I would’ve built an army.
I had nothing but fears,
Would my mind harm me?

I said enough was enough,
I had to take care of me.
I knew it would be rough,
But it was the road to safety.

I can’t say that I’m cured,
But I’m better than I was.
In many ways I’ve matured,
For therapy wasn’t a bust.

It helped clarify many things,
I now knew I had Bipolar Disorder.
This diagnosis gave me wings,
I was no longer leaning on the border.

I’ve been able to mitigate problems,
I’m now mindful of my emotions.
The stresses of life I’ve overcome,
Have put a lot of things in motion.

I no longer believe it was my fault,
Nothing I did caused me that pain.
I was a victim of a mind assault,
Courtesy of a chemical imbalance in my brain.

There is a moral to my story,
Seeking help may benefit you too.
You don’t have to feel sorry…

Someone will be there to love you.

◊

If you are currently depressed or thinking about death or dying, please reach out to a friend or a loved one immediately. If anonymity is important to you, consider using one of the helplines below right now:

Mental Health National Helpline
 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 

Brandon Koebernik
Brandon Koebernik

Brandon Koebernik is a 24-year-old man who was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 Disorder. He feels now that it is now his mission to encourage others to seek help and promote positivity through a shared passion of video games, art, poems, and more. As the creator of the blog The Bipolar Gamer, Brandon has a profound passion for helping others in their journey to living a better life.

Visit His Blog

If you would like your work to be considered for publication on PhoebeMD.com, visit here for information regarding submissions.

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21 replies »

  6. This takes bravery! I have a nephew struggling as well. We’re trying to get him to seek help…. he’s right society says it’s not very manly to do so!! Hoping for the day that stigma is burned to ashes!

    Reply

  8. It takes courage and willpower to accomplish what you have

    Now you possess strengths others do not have

    Normal people have not had to survive an abusive childhood

    At your age you will be a beacon fir many

    Reply

  10. This is an amazing article. I genuinely enjoyed reading it. For some strange reason, seeking help with mental issues is so difficult compared to seeking help as an individual with a physical ailment. People tend to think you are after getting attention when all you desire is help.

    Reply

    • Thank you for the kind words. You’re absolutely correct. Seeking help for mental issues should be no different than finding help for physical ailments. Your brain is a muscle, so just like any other muscle it needs to be taken care of. Thank you for reading!

      Reply

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