"Balancing 'me': Managing the self through bipolar disorder"

Bipolar disorder is clinically difficult to diagnose and treat. This Australian study sought to investigate how people with bipolar disorder are able to determine when to seek help, obtain diagnosis and engage in self-determining management practises. Using a qualitative grounded methodological framework, the study drew upon the concepts of Michel Foucault and Nikolas Rose concerning biomedicine, individual autonomy, and the care of the self. Finding the balance to life was crucial for participants’ wellbeing. Results showed that, due to the clinical difficulties with balancing mood swings, complementary and alternative treatments were integral to self-management, along with engagement with the internet.