Hope

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Individuals living with bipolar share their accounts of when a few wise words made a world of difference in dealing with mania and depression, handling distorted thinking and delusions, releasing self-blame, and more. What’s the best advice you were ever given? Sometimes hearing the right words at the right time can help you find a better...

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“We’re all in this together.” It’s been a common phrase this year, offering each of us the comfort of knowing that we are in the same boat and facing similar challenges. We’re together, not alone, in our battle to keep our mental health above these turbulent waters. With this past year in our rearview mirror,...

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After raising two kids alone and running the family business, this manager stops denying her diagnosis and seeks tools to manage her bipolar I disorder. Raising two children as a single parent. Climbing the professional ladder into the upper executive echelons. Doing it all while yo-yoing emotions made most days a study in fortitude. That...

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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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Edward Dramberger, PhD turned a thirst for travel into a career in hospitality and tourism. As a speaker, author, consultant and traveler, he has touched down in 180 countries and has lived and worked abroad. His recent book The Destination Diaries: How to Travel for Life describes his travel experiences from around the world—all while...

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Olympian, author and advocate Amy Gamble used her winning spirit, heart and determination to help her overcome her greatest opponent—bipolar disorder When Amy Gamble walked into the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, during the 1988 Opening Ceremony, the young athlete was living her dream. The same spirit and drive that took her to the Olympics...

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The comic mastermind behind Career Suicide and The Chris Gethard Show on anxiety, feeling like an oddball, and trying to do some good. Chris Gethard’s unique take on comedy has served him surprisingly well. The Chris Gethard Show, described as an “unclassifiable talk/variety show hybrid,” was picked up by truTV. His podcast Beautiful Stories from...

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Businesswoman Alison’s bipolar depressions were hard on the whole family when her son and daughter were growing up. She still feels guilty. Magnets and decals for sports teams, school mascots, and the honor roll are nothing unusual to see on the back of a family’s car. But when Alison put a magnet for the National...

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She’s run 3 full marathons, 28 half-marathons in 18 states, and 100 shorter races—surprising even herself. Nearly 50 years old and dealing with bipolar II’s chronic and crippling depression, Nita Sweeney could barely jog for 60 seconds. With one determined step at a time and the help of her canine companion, she found her inner...

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With empathy, honesty, and humor, Orchestrating Change follows the fascinating story of Me2/Orchestra, the world’s only classical music organization created for people living with mental health conditions and their supporters. Orchestrating Change, a moving new documentary that debuted on public television’s WORLD Channel (formerly PBS World) this fall, shines a spotlight on Me2/Orchestra—the world’s only...

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Having insight into your health conditions, prioritizing sleep, and maintaining a responsible relationship with substances is always smart—even more so if you have bipolar. I received two rejections yesterday, one of which forced me to click on four links and enter a password before I could access my “regret-to-inform-you” letter. I consider it a sign...

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When a trifecta of painful life circumstances culminated in me hitting my lowest point of bipolar depression, I had no choice but to rebuild myself. So I set the bar high, aiming for becoming the best possible version of myself. My Lowest Point with Bipolar Depression They say when you hit rock bottom, there is...

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A series of complications on the heels of my diagnosis taught me early on that bipolar can disrupt our plans in ways we don’t anticipate. So, I developed personal guidelines for turning setbacks into comebacks. Underestimating the Impact of Bipolar Very soon after my diagnosis, I faced painful personal setbacks from bipolar; at the time,...

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International fashion model, makeup artist to celebs, author, and advocate—Jacqueline Cioffa has done it all. She reflects on her unconventional journey and her struggle to put her life back together after a “manic breakdown.” Jacqueline Cioffa was an international model for 17 years and a makeup artist to celebrities before she turned to storytelling. A courageous and...

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Country musician Jason DeShaw combines his songs and his personal story to bring awareness of mental health challenges to audiences across Big Sky country. Growing up in rural Montana, Jason DeShaw set his eyes on the prize of country music stardom. Inspired by legends like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, he was writing songs, playing...

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After changes to my medication resulted in a depression requiring hospitalization, I am learning to accept uncertainty and grief with strength—and strengthening my body and mindset in the process. Grief, Bipolar Depression, & My Running Routine My running playlist is a pretty cheesy collection of tunes—anything to amp me up and get me down the...

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Naturally, my journey with bipolar has had its ups and downs. It took time, faith, family support, and a lot of persistence to come to a place of mood stability and genuine happiness. In the depths of my bipolar depression, I never could have imagined living the life I now treasure. My Lifelong Dream Since...

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Do you ever stop and take stock of how hard you work to keep going in this battle with bipolar disorder? I rarely do. After some self-reflection, I realized, I am amazing. And so are you—even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. I am a big fan of the group Blues Traveler. They...

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When in the grips of bipolar depression, it’s hard to dredge up feelings of gratitude; but I recently learned some big lessons that have changed my perspective on my life and on my bipolar. “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”—Meister Eckhart, German philosopher and theologian,...

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After my diagnosis, I began to define myself by my bipolar. News of being “in remission” brought up fear, doubt, deep questions about identity, and confusion over what it means when my symptoms disappear … and then reappear. “You Are Not Your Illness.” Any doctor, clinician, therapist, and social worker worth their salt will at...