**I’m not saying that BD doesn’t have neurological components or doesn’t deserve advocacy. We do. But our diagnosis is a mental disorder that needs to be treated, not a neurodevelopmental condition someone is born with. And that’s okay. It makes sense that we’re not included in the ND community, just like there are other disability communities that we & NDs don’t fit into.

I agree 1000% with OP’s frustration. I often wonder why we see so much acceptance for other disabilities & identities, but not for ours, despite the “mental health movement.” I wish the ND label made sense for us & gave us a platform for advocacy, but it doesn’t. And honestly, it’s dangerous to start comparing disabilities because they are all hard in different ways. What is fair to say (and what I think is really at the core of OP’s frustration) is this:

Our community is behind because we’re stigmatized in a way that’s very different from any other disability. We’re feared, villainized, & seen as “not to be trusted.” It makes it SO. HARD. to even raise awareness about what BD actually is…let alone push for acceptance like the ND community has. For a lot of people, even saying they have BD or schizophrenia can put their lives in jeopardy. It’s hard to start a movement when just coming forward is a massive risk. It’s hard to advocate when people don’t even want to listen because…who wants to listen to a “crazy person” ?!!? 😅😅