Reflection on diagnoses, treatments and comorbidities – anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance misuse or addiction. Stigma, and self-stigmatisation are common, and hard to address. The treatments for bipolar disorder can be difficult to tolerate, including weight gain and sedation. Life as a patient informs work as a psychiatrist as a psychiatrist, hopefully for the good. I do have long periods of being on the high side of normal, which is enjoyable, but can end in disaster. The future with bipolar disorder is ultimately unpredictable.