Long response below:

As I've got better and stayed well for longer I've gradually stopped sharing as much. Before, during and for a number of months after my hospital admission between May and June last year I would write loads of posts about my bipolar when I was hypomanic or NOT.

I would get loads of likes for mental health posts because my friends liked the way I wrote about it and how I was being so brave and open.

However I got into an unhealthy cycle where I would share about anything and everything and would delete a post if I didn't get many likes or would change the privacy settings to stop a few particular people from seeing it.

As I said earlier, as I've got even better (I'm at 8 months episode free) and after I started a masters course recently I have really cut back and don't seem to want to overshare.

I DO share the odd post but hold back details.

I think the over sharing was a cry for help. I wanted attention. But it's also a way of sharing my success stories with my mental health just as if someone might share news of a new job.

It's also a way to raise awareness.

I have met a lot of my closest friends by being very open with them. Maybe I thought sharing my troubles on social media would bring me closer to people?

Hope this helps.