Hope

• BLOG

They say that life has its seasons—and that everything can change in an instant. I despise change. When a sudden, painful event tried my strength and tested my faith earlier this year, I turned to my support network to find my way through the storm. There is a song called “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the...

• BLOG

We all need a reason to get up every day–whether it be a pet, family, or work. But what do you do when you don’t have any of those things? The answer: find your purpose in helping others. We all need a reason to get up every day.  For some people they may have a...

• BLOG

Bipolar is rough on us, our families, our friends, and even the world itself. So, when bipolar tries to control you like a puppet, here’s how you can handle the pain and confusion. This isn’t a post on how not to feel sorry for yourself. If any of us in this world have a right...

• BLOG

Depression makes me feel limited and, at times, hopeless. But I have not come this far to be limited. I have not survived the countless previous bipolar storms to let this one have the final say. I will not let bipolar define me. During depression, it is hard not to see my life as one...

• ARTICLE

Leading expert on mood disorders Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, is a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is a best-selling author and lectures widely on the topic of bipolar disorder. Here are her top six strategies as told to bp Magazine: #1 Stay on your medication. Jamison says medication regimen is one...

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Nadia Pym is a girl scientist with bipolar. She’s also The Unstoppable Wasp, a Marvel superhero. Read how artist Jeremy Whitley brings her to life. Comic book writer Jeremy Whitley has a reputation for combining empowerment and adventure. In Princeless, a princess (who is a young woman of color) refuses to wait around for someone...

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Though the symptoms may differ, as do specific personal struggles, just knowing we are all in this together can be a source of true strength. Living with bipolar disorder can require an exhausting amount of time explaining and adjusting and apologizing. Sometimes all it takes to relieve a bit of the pressure is to hear...

• BLOG

Bipolar disorder is part of my body, and it is also part of my life. So, like paying for an unexpectedly expensive lunch, I have to live with it. Have you ever been to a restaurant and been shocked by the bill when it arrives? Just the other day, my nephew and I went to...

• BLOG

Let hope guide you “stone by stone” through the grief and trauma left in the aftermath of challenging episodes. During a particularly challenging time in my twenties, I stumbled on a wonderful analogy for how we must move through the difficult times in our lives: stone to stone, exactly the way you would cross a...

• BLOG

Medication and self-care are both important parts of managing bipolar––but so is finding an inspiring bipolar mentor. Medication and working on yourself can go a long way to assist in managing bipolar disorder.  But there is one other key that has been crucial to my recovery.  That is having mentors to look towards who were...

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Internationally known visual artist Derek Hess uses his personal struggle with bipolar and alcoholism to creatively express the raw intensity of the human experience. If ever there were a way to tap into the human psyche and lay it bare for all to see, celebrated visual artist Derek Hess has found the key. Indeed, the...

• BLOG

Living with bipolar disorder is an extremely difficult journey, but it is vital to never give up. We must realize that our circumstances change over time, which affords us hope and gratitude. There have been times throughout my existence when I believed my fate was sealed—a sad life with an unfortunate ending. I had been...

• ARTICLE

While hospitalized, Terese Marie Mailhot began writing her bestseller, Heart Berries: A Memoir, that explores life as an Indigenous Canadian woman with bipolar disorder.   While hospitalized with a diagnosis of bipolar II, Terese Marie Mailhot began writing Heart Berries: A Memoir, which became a New York Times Bestseller. A series of essays, the book...

• ARTICLE

University fundraiser, David, spent four years finding workable medications for his bipolar I disorder, slowly added in self-care, and later entered psychotherapy.   There was a time when going on permanent disability seemed inevitable for David C. . He’d been hospitalized three times in four years for episodes of mania and bipolar depression. Recurring mood...

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Strategies for managing bipolar also apply to weight loss. How to adapt principles like mindfulness, self-monitoring, and a support team to slimming down. Whether you’d like to lose a little weight or a lot, you’ve got company: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, more than 70 percent of Americans over age 20 are...

• ARTICLE

There are many worthy films about mental illness that inspire, inform and entertain. Here, we narrow down the list to nine movies featuring a lead character with bipolar disorder that you don’t want to miss! #1 The Ghost and the Whale (2016) Maurice Benard (Sonny of General Hospital) stars as Joseph Hawthorne, a man whose...

• BLOG

Managing bipolar takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but the positive effects in your life can certainly make it worth it.   Bipolar disorder is a genetic illness that affects a person’s ability to self regulate the mood. I’ve lived with the illness for …can you believe it… almost 40 years. Yikes! The...

• BLOG

While managing bipolar may often feel like a hopeless struggle, there are major  positives in store for you if you stay persistent.   It’s the nature of self help to write about how we can fix what is wrong in our lives. Sometimes, we forget that people want to hear about the positives as well!...

• ARTICLE

As beautifully told in his book Gorilla and the Bird, former attorney Zack McDermott relied on his mother’s unconditional support while winning his way back to stability.   At the time, it all made perfect sense to Zack McDermott. After stepping outside his apartment one October afternoon in 2009, he immediately knew that cameras were...

• BLOG

Instead of complaining about the celebrity spotlight, we could combat stigma by talking about our own experiences with bipolar.   I’ve found myself talking about celebrities and mental health a little more than I’ve wanted to, but it’s something that I realize is just important to talk about. When celebrities talk about their struggles, especially...