“Well, You Look Good!”: Masking and Allyship with Bipolar Disorder

When you “look good” for a reason

A few weeks ago, I posted on LinkedIn about going to my doctor and being told I “looked good” for having a sinus infection, only to realize I looked put together because I was masking.

For World Bipolar Day, a day aiming to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma, I wanted to discuss my bipolar journey with “masking,” or essentially, how I edit my external appearance and actions to cover for my internal experiences. Though World Bipolar Day has passed, Mental Health Month approaches. I hope this article brings something to keep in mind as we move through our lives and connect with our communities.

What is masking?

So, what is masking? Masking involves consciously or unconsciously suppressing behaviors, attributes, or emotions that are part of someone’s identity. You may hear this term used with autism or ADHD. As we close Neurodivergent Celebration Week, I want to thank all the brilliant creators and professionals discussing this topic.

Masking can also happen for people with a variety of psychiatric disabilities like depression, anxiety, bipolar, and schizophrenia, as well as for people with non-apparent disabilities or other…