Rosie van Amerongen, now 29, shares her journey after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 22, following a psychotic episode and arrest at London Stansted Airport. Raised in Stroud, Rosie noticed early on that her emotional sensitivity set her apart. “At 15, when a friend developed anorexia, I was more distressed than she was,” she recalls, highlighting how others often labeled her “reactive” and “sensitive.”
Her struggles deepened into depression during her late teens, marked by masking her true feelings to appear happy outwardly—a façade that drained her both mentally and physically. “Masking is like acting,” Rosie explained. “It’s exhausting to hide how depressed or high you really feel.”
Understanding bipolar disorder has helped Rosie recognize the unique highs and lows experienced by those with the condition. “The extremes of mood bring out different sides of people’s personalities,” she said. During lows, her senses become overwhelmingly heightened.
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At 21, while working as a model, Rosie’s condition intensified following a breakup during a deep depressive episode. What she initially perceived as recovery was later understood to be hypomania, spiraling into full-blown psychosis. “I thought I was a reincarnation of a deceased sibling and was posting delusional messages online,” she said.
Her crisis culminated in a terrifying experience at Stansted Airport, where she was arrested after a psychotic episode involving hallucinations, including hearing satanic voices. This ordeal led to her being sectioned and hospitalized, where she began receiving professional care and support.
Though the diagnosis brought relief in understanding her experiences, Rosie endured seven grueling months of depression and suicidal thoughts. Reflecting on this period, she emphasizes the difficulty young people face in accepting bipolar disorder’s lifelong challenges.
Despite societal stigma—manifested in hushed tones and silence—Rosie persevered. The right medication, particularly antipsychotics containing mood stabilizers, significantly improved her quality of life by regulating sleep patterns, which she identifies as crucial in managing bipolar disorder.
Peer support also transformed her outlook. Connecting with other young women living with bipolar through Bipolar UK provided invaluable understanding and solidarity, making difficult days more bearable.
Now a Bipolar UK ambassador, Rosie shares her story to dismantle misconceptions and encourage openness. She stresses that bipolar disorder can affect anyone—regardless of gender or personality—and urges young women not to fear the diagnosis. “It’s normal. You don’t have to manage this alone,” she says.