Hope

• ARTICLE

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...

• ARTICLE

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...

• 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...

• 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...

• BLOG

Demi Lovato’s overdose this past summer can demonstrate that we can’t neglect to take care of ourselves while working to combat stigma. *Update: On Friday, Oct. 26th, Demi Lovato’s mother Dianna De La Garza said on the podcast “Conversations with Maria Menounos” her daughter marked 90 days sober   In the movement to spread the...

• ARTICLE

Tips for aging: solidify your support system, focus on your overall health, keep stress at bay, maintain stability, and nurture your self-esteem. By Stephen Propst   When I turned 50, I was shocked—but it wasn’t for the typical reasons. Given my battle with bipolar, I just didn’t think I’d live this long! Getting on in...

• BLOG

 Assessing yourself and remembering it’s OK to take your time can help you achieve your goals, no matter how out of reach they may seem.   Like anyone else, I have created and embellished a story that explains my life. This story is the identity that I have held on to, so that I can...

• BLOG

There are times when we need to push ourselves to overcome bipolar disorder—a therapeutic outdoor recreational program can offer this opportunity. By Karl Shallowhorn   Recently, I had the opportunity to once again work with Higher Ground USA, a non-profit organization that serves veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), and Military...

• ARTICLE

Self-awareness and healthy boundaries are key to maintaining strong relationships with your significant others, family and friends when mood swings threaten to pull you apart.   All relationships ebb and flow. It comes with the territory because, well, we’re human. But when bipolar is part of the equation, the dynamics of relationships–with partners, family members...

• ARTICLE

After Kelley Thorpe Baker accepted her bipolar I diagnosis and made positive lifestyle changes, she became a successful life coach and a mental health activist. By Denise Mann   If only Kelley Thorpe Baker had access to the tools and resources that she has created for others when she was first diagnosed with bipolar I...

• VIDEO

While it can be easy to get caught up in all of the challenges that come with bipolar, overcoming them teaches perseverance.   I really want to just share some of the good things that have happened with my bipolar and some of the bad things, and to really get to the point that bipolar...

• ARTICLE

Seeking help to manage your bipolar disorder is NOT weak; admitting that you need help is a sign of great personal strength.   It was my final year of law school, and all was well on paper. But true to form, depression didn’t care. It led me to the brink of me taking my own...

• ARTICLE

What do members of the ‘thrive tribe’—those with Bipolar who maintain healthy, fulfilling lifestyles—have in common? By Melody Moezzi   In an effort to combat the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health conditions, I’ve been writing and speaking publicly about my experiences with bipolar disorder for nearly a decade. In that time, I have encountered...

• ARTICLE

The process of accepting a bipolar diagnosis is long and arduous—for both you AND your family members. By Lindsay Wheeler   I say my life started in 2014 when I began writing about my secret battle with bipolar. Just after telling my parents, I announced it publicly on Facebook. Wrapped up in the sensation of...