Paul English

• English has publicly identified himself as having bipolar II. He says he was first diagnosed with bipolar illness at age 25 and has been open about the diagnosis for more than a decade. [1]
• He has described becoming increasingly comfortable discussing it publicly despite concerns that disclosure could affect how potential business partners viewed him. He has said that the benefits of openness—including connecting with others and helping people through his story—ultimately outweighed those concerns. [1]

• English has described hypomanic periods in which he could be highly productive, write prolifically, and function on very little sleep. He has also described less manageable aspects of these periods, including grandiosity, irritability, impulsivity, and drinking too much. [1]
• His depressive episodes have been very different. English has said that during severe periods he spent days on the floor, experienced panic attacks, and feared that the depression would never end. He has said that both sides of the illness affected his relationships and his health. [1]

• English has said that he has learned to manage bipolar disorder through therapy and medication, along with support from close friends and family. He has also described meditation and mindfulness as helping him become less reactive and better able to manage anger and irritability. [1]

• English has said that things affect him less now than they did in his twenties, and that when he becomes angry, it passes much more quickly. He describes himself as generally happy and optimistic, while still referring to bipolar disorder as an illness he continues to live with. [1]

• English has become increasingly public about living with bipolar disorder and has encouraged other people with the diagnosis to share their experiences. He has said that he no longer feels a need to hide his diagnosis and encourages people with bipolar disorder to confide in trusted people rather than remain isolated. [4][1]
• He founded the Bipolar Social Club to create a peer network where people with bipolar disorder can share stories and information. English has said that one of the main ways to reduce stigma is for more people with bipolar disorder to tell their stories. [5]

“Secrecy and shame are the enemy of healing.”

— Paul English [1]