As a teenager, I made everything tougher than it needed to be.

I argued when I was asked to do chores. I was miserable just to prove a point. I wouldn’t listen to good advice.

I was also a teenager with mental illness.

I am still mystified by the new health care law and how it will affect me and the treatment of my bipolar disorder.

I have read into it, not enough to make me an expert, but enough that an English BA graduate would be able to understand what’s going on.

Truth be told, it’s not as easy as a quick textbook read.

Quality of life is an important topic for people with bipolar disorder.

If you have the illness, you know that you suffer emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically.

Medically, the diagnosis is associated with impaired functioning.

For instance, if a woman develops bipolar disorder at the age of 25, she could lose up to 9 years of her life because of cardiovascular and other medical problems.

She may also lose up to 14 years of productivity, and 12 years of good health.

This year, I am actually well enough to put something worthwhile into Mental Health Awareness Month.

At this time last year, I was coming off of severe episodes of depression and mania after having to leave my Master’s program (more on that in a future article).

I was just starting a new job, and I was unsure of myself and what the future would hold.

I was born in 1988. When I was in kindergarten, the computers we played on had black screens with green figures and symbols.

I know I’m not that old, but technology has really exploded since the late 80’s. I started with Oregon Trail and look where we are now. We’re excited about everything tech.

I have a question.

Is there such thing as thinking about your mental illness too much?

In the throes of depression I have had multiple people, diagnosed and not, tell me that maybe I think excessively about having bipolar.

Maybe it’s affecting me.

Tattooing has occurred since before Christ.

My Tattoo, Fresh, 2010

Archaeologists have found mummies with tattoos the world over.

Tattooing was done in ancient China, the Philippines, Egypt, Europe, and India.

In the latter decades of the 20th century, they became popular worldwide.

You may think Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is only for those that live with borderline personality disorder. However, I am an example of a person with bipolar disorder that has benefitted from this approach.

Many men and women with bipolar disorder are familiar with suicidal thoughts—including me.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve thought about suicide, and the reasons have varied.

It is often a familiar feeling and desire for those that experience mental illness.

According to About.com Bipolar Disorder, it is estimated that 20% of those with bipolar will commit suicide. That’s one out of every five. And as many as 50%—half—will attempt suicide at least once in their lives.

I need to start being a little more selfish.

And I mean that in the most serious way.

Yesterday, while I was on a weekend trip to St. Augustine, Florida, I got violently ill while walking along famous St. George Street.