Background: Mental illness affects approximately 20-40% of the population in Sweden. To be able to meet these patients in a good way you need to understand the complexity of everyday life for a person with bipolar disorder. Each year about 1500 people commits suicide, of which about 90% has some form of mental illness.

Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the experiences from people living with bipolar disorder. Method: The study was based on narratives, which in this case means analysis of autobiographies. Three autobiographies, written by people with bipolar disorder, were analyzed using Dahlborg-Lyckhage's method for inductive narrative analysis. Results: Four categories and ten subcategories emerged which describes positive and negative experiences about how it is to live with bipolar disorder. Negative experiences of healthcare result in powerlessness, anxiety and mental lability, whereas positive experiences of healthcare result in hope.

Conclusion: As a nurse it is very important to keep in mind how complex it is to live with bipolar disorder. As a nurse you need to remember how important it is to understand and support the patients and their relatives.