Hey, Melody--

Thanks so much for the encouraging words! In answer to your question, bipolar disorder is characterized by extremes in moods: depression on one end of the scale and mania (high, elevated, unnaturally energetic mood) on the other. Sometimes there is psychosis along with the mania. There are two types. I have type 2, which has "hypomania" rather than classic "mania"  (it's a step down from mania and doesn't last as long), and horrible depressions. Oddly enough, it's kind of hard to get diagnosed with bipolar disorder, even though the definitions sounds clear enough on paper. I kept getting diagnosed with depression because that was my main symptom. 

I love what you wrote about how God values us and our stories. Simply beautiful. Thank you for reading.