8 Lessons TV’s ‘Lady Dynamite’ Teaches Us About Bipolar Disorder

Maria Bamford is not afraid to tackle mental illness in her Netflix series “Lady Dynamite,” which is based on the comedian’s own life. Proving that all ladies can be dynamite, even those with mental illnesses, the 12-episode series confronts Bamford’s off-screen diagnosis of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

While the condition is fairly common, cinema does not represent bipolar disorder on screen. However, when it is not ignored, the characters experiencing the condition are often portrayed as extreme caricatures. Maria Bamford fights this trend by presenting a raw and real account of her personal experience with the mental malady. Her honesty opens up the conversation, debunks the myth and mitigates the stigma.

Here are eight things “Lady Dynamite” teaches us about bipolar disorder.

1 Forget black and white, bipolar is yellow and blue.

It’s hard to see bipolar disorder through undiagnosed eyes, but “Lady Dynamite” separates Maria’s depressive and manic moods into color-coded sequences. These filtered accounts help the viewer understand what it’s like to live with the condition.

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2 Don’t get the two types twisted.

There are two types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Unlike other shows that portray the extreme case of Bipolar I, Maria’s diagnosis of Bipolar II (“I’m two, too!” she tells a new acquaintance) is a moderate version of the condition that demonstrates the disorder’s broad spectrum.

3 Relationships can be hard to manage.

Mood swings are difficult in any relationship, but bipolar disorder may magnify this challenge. Maria isolates a lot of her friends with her irritable, sullen moods while overcompensating with overly energetic and generous gestures to romantic partners.

4 Impulse control may be low.

Maria’s impulsive behavior leads to a few mistakes. After a couple weeks of dating, she asks her new (evicted) beau to move in and marry her. At work, she eagerly agrees to take on more than she can handle. Once reality comes crashing down, she is left screaming into a sponge in the shower.

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5 A diagnosis reveals true friends.

Once Maria is admitted to the psych ward, some her friends start to treat her differently. A diagnosis of mental illness may be too heavy for fair-weather friends to handle. However, she is left with a few close confidantes – Dagmar, Larissa and Susan – who see past her disorder.

6 The disorder definitely has its perks.

While intense highs and lows make it hard to navigate daily life, bipolar isn’t all bad. The disorder makes Maria highly creative, enhancing her stand-up routines and advancing her career. It also makes her highly compassionate and empathetic to others’ quirks (i.e. her hot-mess-manager Bruce).

7 Breaks are important for balance.

After having intense energy from hypomania episodes, it can be hard for Maria to relax. Slowly, she learns to take breaks and work for balance. Maria eases back into her life, scaling back with romantic and work commitments (although Loaf Coach may have been a bit too lazy).

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8 Bipolar is nothing to be afraid of.

Having bipolar disorder doesn’t mean you’re crazy – or contagious. Maria helps debunk that nasty stigma. She doesn’t pretend to be normal (who wants that, anyway?) and doesn’t play victim (unless she’s doing a skit). By owning her disorder, Maria proves that she is every bit as awesome as the next gal.