You want to explain what this condition feels like, but it is difficult to imagine what someone who has not experienced it might understand. That is why poets, over the centuries, have developed the language of imagery.

Readers will always apply your words to their own experience, so the word “disease” might make them think of polio or cancer, and “tortured souls” might bring to mind Biblical references of sinners being punished in Hell, for example. A poet’s job is not to fill readers’ minds with irrelevant ideas, but to place very specific ones there. Instead of telling us bipolar disorder is a disease and a sickness which makes life feel impossible and tortures your soul, it would be good to find a clear metaphor. One which is unmistakable and makes the reader experience bi-polar disorder, as closely as possible.

Think of some famous poetry about states of mind, such as “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith, or “Blackberrying” by Sylvia Plath. These masters of the art don’t allow the reader to stray. The metaphor they use places their theme precisely and forcefully in our minds’ eye. So my best advice is to examine metaphor, then translate your deepest feelings into vivid, concrete ideas. Show us what bipolar disorder feels like by putting us right in it.

Thanks, Mavis! I really appreciate the constructive criticism. I think I’ll try exactly as you said and try to keep my reader perfectly on point throughout the poem. Hmmm… I feel kind of inspired now!

bipolar

tripolar

multipolar

infinipolar

it’s all the same

only the names change

10,000 voices of forgotten ghosts haunt me

filling my nights with sleepless despair

and my days with endless dreariness

even breathing seems too much of a task to me…

It is interesting, the points that Mavis makes. For someone like me who suffers with Bipolar Disorder, I think you hit on all of the points He made. Your poem is very descriptive to someone like me who experiences what you have described.

I know the vulnerability of sharing poetry, so thanks for sharing.

My partner has bp, I fumbled across this site accidently, I want to educate myself as much as possible about his condition. I am clueless of what it\’s all about? (apart from the experiences i\’ve had and have with my partner) He was diagnosed 12 years ago with hypermania, he was 30 yrs old. He suffered a total meltdown Jan 2010 and was then diagnosed with bp. We\’ve been together 2 1/2 years. I was totally unaware of his bp, he kept it all bottled up and was in denial. Now it\’s all come to light,and professional help and medication has been excepted, things are better all round, as we both start our new beginning with more understanding. I want to be able to help him as much as possible, and want be able to recognise any changes that could lead to any of the ups or the downs he could suffer. Reading all I have read so far by such beautiful people, has given me such hope that we can live with this positively. I thank you all for this indeed, such needed insight for me, it has helped me as an outsider looking in, to be able to recognise, that certain characteristic and personality change (the condition creates) is not my partner, it\’s bipolar.. I send love and happiness, and wish all a wonderful and beautiful future.. Rachael Boston lincs