Our award-winning bpHope Blog is a collection of posts written with heartfelt honesty by a group of bloggers from around the world, with each providing their own unique perspectives on living with bipolar disorder. Our bloggers write on issues that reflect their experiences and knowledge of living with bipolar disorder and address a range of topics, including relationships, treatment, symptoms (mania, depression, anger, hypersexuality, impulsivity, sleep), stigma, parenting, and more. Our diverse and eclectic group of blog/vlog authors offer information, inspiration, practical guidance—and HOPE, no matter what your needs are. Whether you have bipolar disorder or have a loved one who does, the bpHope Blog is a trusted community for you to connect with.
I love a good mood-tracking checklist, but to recognize and address my symptoms, I look to specific factors that provide the context of impending episodes. One thing I am currently trying to sear into my memory (and others’, too!) is that bipolar is a cognitive disorder—so the symptoms are incredibly sneaky…. And, unfortunately, undetected shifts...
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Everybody pretends sometimes—glossing over ugly truths, exaggerating, even lying. That’s different from “bipolar pretending,” where acting like you’re “okay” is a matter of survival. My bipolar disorder has impacted every part of my life. Specifically, from the time before I had my worst breakdown, which started my lost years, up until today. And I realize...
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It won’t be hard to say goodbye to 2020, given all the challenges it brought. But New Year’s Eve itself might be difficult, especially if—like me—you are single and anticipating an emotionally charged time with potential mood swings. That’s why I am planning ahead for what to do—I want to ring in the new year...
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Living with bipolar and working toward a graduate degree in public health has given me a unique perspective on this past year. My anxiety was amplified to the extreme, and learning to live through these challenging times required me to reprioritize self-care and close relationships. From Dubious to Facing Sudden Danger As a graduate student...
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I choose to focus on the good and think positively—even when it comes to all that we have collectively endured this past year. Let’s consider a different perspective on our uncertain and disruptive times: How has 2020 has benefited those of us who live with bipolar? Whoo, this year is one for the record books,...
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Are you consuming too much negative news and social media at night? Your lack of restorative sleep, mood triggers, and ramped up anxiety are good reasons to take back control! This year, I feel as if, collectively, we are glued to our screens even more than usual. From Zoom calls to social media scrolling, many of...
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We are living through a stressful, complicated, and emotionally taxing time of year—all in the midst of a world health crisis. To reduce my anxiety, I streamline and simplify. Here’s how I’ve addressed the stressors of past holidays, plus what I am doing now to reduce my tension in this particular season of uncertainty. I’m...
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This time of year, I actively resist the urge to overspend. I love giving gifts, going to holiday parties, and dressing up to celebrate. In the past, mania “managed” my wallet and festivities for me. It just forgot about, well, everything else. Thankfully, I’ve learned some lessons to manage my money, my moods, and the...
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Prior to my diagnosis of bipolar, my life was marked by constant change that elated and destroyed me over and over again. With treatment and hard work, I’ve learned how to manage my moods and find stability. It’s about time, I think, to recognize how far I’ve come. I love a good whodunit. The second...
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Times have been tough. But so are we. The end-of-year holidays can be difficult any year, and, this time around, they pose new challenges to our mood and well-being. Let’s not forget: Living with bipolar has taught us how to navigate through uncertainty. Here are the coping skills I’ve been relying on to remain stable...
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For me, the holidays usually bring not only traditions and gatherings but also stress and strong triggers. Difficult memories arise as the season changes and the holidays are upon us. In the years since my bipolar diagnosis and sobriety, I’ve learned how to navigate these months and maintain a stable mood. Holidays & Memories—for Better...
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With the current challenges of daily living, I’ve grown to appreciate my gratitude practice even more. Every small joy makes a difference, and creating my daily list helps me to be mindful, stay present, and monitor my anxiety. Gratitude Brings Me Back to the Moment Eighteen years ago, my first Overeater’s Anonymous sponsor suggested that...
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This past year has been challenging, and the upcoming holiday season is likely to be no different—especially when we’re feeling isolated. To stay out of the holiday blues or bipolar depression, I am approaching this season proactively, tackling loneliness directly and finding ways to be festive and joyful. Feeling Lonely & Isolated During the Holidays...
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My anxiety at the family dinner table often made me “check out” during gatherings like Thanksgiving. I got lost in my head, where I felt safer. But I also missed out on all the fun. Here is how I set an intention to stay in a healthy mindset, escape the holiday blues, and learned to...
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Those of us who write about our lives with bipolar have different motivations: enhancing public awareness, sharing information, combating stigma, providing hope and inspiration… While composing my memoir, I’m wondering about what to share and how—intention vs. impact, social value vs. personal risk. And when is it “too much”? Writing about Bipolar & Being an...
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As we learn more about our cognitive disorder, the brain/mind, and mood, it’s natural that the names of various diagnoses will evolve, or change. But I am not convinced that “bipolar disorder” is a good representation of what I (and others with this diagnosis) experience. Here’s why. In 1980, the DSM-III changed the name of...
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It can be easy to forget that our actions during a mood episode are the symptoms of bipolar—they’re not true representations of our personality and decision-making when stable. Especially after the more “outrageous” behaviors associated with mania, the guilt and shame we feel can keep us from taking stock of what we’ve done and even...
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One of the most important decisions we make is the person we trust with our hearts and choose to spend our lives with. For a relationship to not just survive but also thrive when one partner lives with bipolar, there are a few foundational requirements. Here is what I have learned so far … We...
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After years of finding new ways to tackle my mood episodes before they take over my day, I’ve noticed that those I turn to most are the strategies that allow me to be creative. Art, music, dance, and more … the creative arts help with distraction, self-soothing, and even relief from the anxiety and depression...
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I’ve found that the holiday season can stir up strong feelings of loneliness. With so much emphasis on family, I’m repeatedly reminded of personal losses and how bipolar has disrupted my past. Now, I turn to specific coping strategies that allow me to experience the holidays with more gratitude and cheer. I often find myself...
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