--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a…" description: "\"“You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a bipolar disorder. You also have vibrant blue eyes, a wonderful personality, a tendency to undervalue yourself, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/eric-lindstrom-67144_bipolar_you-re-not-bipolar-mel-you-have-a-bipola_756314.jpg" --- # You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a bipolar disorder. You… ![“You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a bipolar disorder. You also have vibrant blue eyes, a wonderful personality, a tendency to undervalue yourself, and many, many other things. None of those things are you." "What am I, then?" "A person who changes and grows all the time.” quote by Eric Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/eric-lindstrom-67144_bipolar_you-re-not-bipolar-mel-you-have-a-bipola_756314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/eric-lindstrom-67144_bipolar_you-re-not-bipolar-mel-you-have-a-bipola_756314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/eric-lindstrom-67144_bipolar_you-re-not-bipolar-mel-you-have-a-bipola_756314.jpg) > ““You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a bipolar disorder. You also have vibrant blue eyes, a wonderful personality, a tendency to undervalue yourself, and many, many other things. None of those things are you." "What am I, then?" "A person who changes and grows all the time.”” [Eric Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lindstrom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes identity from traits, stating that personal qualities and conditions are not the whole self; identity is the evolving person beneath them. **In simple terms:** Traits and conditions aren't your whole self; you are the changing person inside. Key Takeaway Recognize yourself as a dynamic, growing individual. Themes identity self-awareness growth mental health self-acceptance Mood reflective hopeful empathetic Type advice philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - self-reflection journaling - support group discussions - personal coaching Key Concepts psychology personal development self-concept Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate your self-worth from external labels? - What practices help you stay grounded in your evolving identity? A Different Perspective Traits and conditions can be overwhelming, making self-identification difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bipolar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar/) [Bipolar disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar-disorder/) [Bipolar Mel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar-mel-5873324/) [Blue eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue-eyes/) [Disorder Vibrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorder-vibrant-5873326/) [Mel Bipolar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mel-bipolar-5873325/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes labeling is only useful, like with OCD. Once you're labeled you can be treated. On other occasions labeling leads to tyranny, like with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/sometimes-labeling-is-only-useful-like-with-ocd-once-you-re-labeled/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Because of my bipolar disorder, I tend to these mixed states, which are depressed but loud and agitated. So I can be terribly irritable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/because-of-my-bipolar-disorder-i-tend-to-these-mixed-states-which-are/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [It's almost like it's my alter ego when I get on stage... I turn into this different person, seriously. Bipolar disorder. I'm tired of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/it-s-almost-like-it-s-my-alter-ego-when-i-get-on-stage-i-turn-into/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Just to let you know I don't post my books and things on the net in hopes of being rich. The reason is. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/just-to-let-you-know-i-don-t-post-my-books-and-things-on-the-net-in/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [One of things so bad about depression and bipolar disorder is that if you don't have prior awareness, you don't have any idea what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/one-of-things-so-bad-about-depression-and-bipolar-disorder-is-that-if/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“Was James bipolar?” The tears returned, and I watched her battle them. “We don’t use that word in our family.” I stared at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/was-james-bipolar-the-tears-returned-and-i-watched-her-battle-them-we/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [In late 2011, I watched a documentary by Stephen Fry called 'The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive.' He shared his story of bipolar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/in-late-2011-i-watched-a-documentary-by-stephen-fry-called-the-secret/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [“Bipolar illness, manic depression, manic-depressive illness, manic-depressive psychosis. That’s a nice way of saying you will feel so high that no street drug can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-f-anderson/bipolar-illness-manic-depression-manic-depressive-illness-manic/) [Christine F. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-f-anderson/) > [“Worse, Roger erupted into outbursts of uncontrollable rage, without apparent cause. In time I learned that this was one symptom of what therapists formerly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-kahn/worse-roger-erupted-into-outbursts-of-uncontrollable-rage-without/) [Roger Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-kahn/) > [“Joshua had always been able to get away with things—things for which he should never have been forgiven. He was a lot like James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/joshua-had-always-been-able-to-get-away-with-things-things-for-which/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [“James had taken his own life, but the need to do so was not something easily explained. He had the life he wanted: money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/james-had-taken-his-own-life-but-the-need-to-do-so-was-not-something/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [When I harnessed its seemingly uncontrollable might, I realized bipolar disorder's powers could be used for good. My diagnosis didn't have to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/when-i-harnessed-its-seemingly-uncontrollable-might-i-realized/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I was hoping that I could say stuff about mental illness that maybe people didn't know. You know, speak up for bipolar disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-millegan/i-was-hoping-that-i-could-say-stuff-about-mental-illness-that-maybe/) [Eric Millegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-millegan/) > [“Creativity is closely associated with bipolar disorder. This condition is unique . Many famous historical figures and artists have had this. Yet they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/creativity-is-closely-associated-with-bipolar-disorder-this-condition/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [“Bipolar robs you of that which is you. It can take from you the very core of your being and replace it with something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-reyans/bipolar-robs-you-of-that-which-is-you-it-can-take-from-you-the-very/) [Alyssa Reyans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-reyans/) ## More by Eric Lindstrom > [“Being in love with someone who doesn't love you back is a tragedy. A fantasy is having someone understand the real you and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lindstrom/being-in-love-with-someone-who-doesn-t-love-you-back-is-a-tragedy-a/) [Eric Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lindstrom/) > [“Sometimes I wish I knew what I was going to say in time to decide not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lindstrom/sometimes-i-wish-i-knew-what-i-was-going-to-say-in-time-to-decide-not/) [Eric Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lindstrom/) > [“I love you, Parker. You’re my sister. No, better than that; real sisters you’re stuck with—we’re sisters because we want to be.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lindstrom/i-love-you-parker-you-re-my-sister-no-better-than-that-real-sisters/) [Eric Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lindstrom/) [Explore all 4 Eric Lindstrom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lindstrom/) ## More Bipolar quotes > [Sometimes labeling is only useful, like with OCD. Once you're labeled you can be treated. On other occasions labeling leads to tyranny, like with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/sometimes-labeling-is-only-useful-like-with-ocd-once-you-re-labeled/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. One of the reasons I spend a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-s-more-common-than-not-that-bipolar-illness-will-start-in-the/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Every seventeen minutes in America, someone commits suicide. Mostly, I have been impressed by how little value our society puts on saving the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/every-seventeen-minutes-in-america-someone-commits-suicide-mostly-i/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Flippin up my phone, touch screen motorola. They figured I was bipolar the way I sipped that syrup and soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/flippin-up-my-phone-touch-screen-motorola-they-figured-i-was-bipolar/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [“Creativity is closely associated with bipolar disorder. This condition is unique . Many famous historical figures and artists have had this. Yet they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/creativity-is-closely-associated-with-bipolar-disorder-this-condition/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/ordinarily-he-was-insane-but-he-had-lucid-moments-when-he-was-merely/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [I was hoping that I could say stuff about mental illness that maybe people didn't know. You know, speak up for bipolar disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-millegan/i-was-hoping-that-i-could-say-stuff-about-mental-illness-that-maybe/) [Eric Millegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-millegan/) > [I have never gone for a diagnosis and I don't consider myself to be bipolar, but I have extreme moods. I get heightened. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-quentin/i-have-never-gone-for-a-diagnosis-and-i-don-t-consider-myself-to-be/) [Caroline Quentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-quentin/) > [When you're depressed, you know, it's like the world has ended. Even getting out of bed takes the most massive amount of effort. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/when-you-re-depressed-you-know-it-s-like-the-world-has-ended-even/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“I thought I would inaugurate a Bipolar Pride Day. You know, with floats and parades and stuff! On the floats we would get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-thought-i-would-inaugurate-a-bipolar-pride-day-you-know-with-floats/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I just always wanted to study human behavior because every psychologist that I would talk to would tell me I was bipolar, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gates/i-just-always-wanted-to-study-human-behavior-because-every/) [Kevin Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gates/) > [“Insomuch as the structure of this book parallels that of my own mind, it boasts about as much order and linearity as a hallucination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-moezzi/insomuch-as-the-structure-of-this-book-parallels-that-of-my-own-mind/) [Melody Moezzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-moezzi/) > [“In our family "whim-wham" is code, a defanged reference to any number of moods and psychological disorders, be they depressive, manic, or schizoaffective. Back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lovelace/in-our-family-whim-wham-is-code-a-defanged-reference-to-any-number-of/) [David Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lovelace/) [Browse all 373 Bipolar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipolar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You're not bipolar, Mel. You have a bipolar disorder. You also have vibrant blue eyes, a wonderful personality, a tendency to undervalue yourself, and many, many other things. 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