opportunities and social bonds, bipolar disorder affects a very large portion of the population, with almost six million American adults living with the illness every year. Thus, the negative consequences of the social stigma associated with bipolar disorder are sociologically interesting because it is such a widespread mental disorder and affects millions of people everyday. The media largely shapes the attitudes of the public on mental illnesses, especially with the use of horror films and prime time television series, by labeling individuals who have these disorders as psychotics with no regard for human life, which insinuates that these stereotypes about the dangers of mental disorders are to be taken as fact. Throughout history, the media
