"I'm not going to let anyone try to embarrass me for this. But, I'm also not going to let anyone use my diagnosis as a scapegoat to persecute me," Ashley Maleo said of his bipolar diagnosis.

Ashley Maleo talks about living with bipolar disorder.

Jacqueline Laurita, daughter of a Real Housewives alum from New Jersey, detailed her diagnosis in a lengthy Instagram post-Monday, telling fans she plans to "talk more about it" in the future.

"You may not think I've had many difficulties in my life, but I have," wrote Maleo, 31. About a month ago, I developed a psychotic disorder. I found myself in a situation where I was afraid of myself and my thoughts. And finally, I decided to seek appropriate help."

He adds that he's also taking a break from social media: "During this process of seeking help, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II," Maleo said, adding that he immediately started taking the medication "because I feel like I've tried everything. others so far."

He said he initially "rejected" his diagnosis but did not have sufficient information about his condition. "I'm used to hearing bipolar as a negative adjective to describe someone. I always thought it had to do with mood. But, it's more and more things in my life starting to make sense," Maleo wrote. "It's a relief to finally get an explanation for some things."

Maleo says the diagnosis gave him the power to "take back control." Calling bipolar disorder a "gift of great emotions," Maleo says, "It gave me the level of stamina I desperately needed to grow up. It has allowed me to withstand whatever obstacles the universe throws at me. I am strong. It helped me became imaginative, empathetic, and adaptable — and contributed to my great sense of humor in some ways."