Is anyone else so high functioning with their bipolar that they almost feel like a fraud within both the real world and also within the bipolar world? I get straight A’s in college, work full time while in school full time, have been given several academic honors and promotions within my job all while dying on the inside. I feel like I show up so well that when I am in a depressive or manic episode, I can’t even take the time off that I need because people don’t know I have a mental illness or don’t realize it’s as bad as it is. I also feel like whenever I get into my depressive episodes I’m just being a burden to everyone. I want to thrive in life but I also wish people understood how hard it is to have an effed brain while living as if you don’t.