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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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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Many of us can remember it in perfect detail: the exact moment when we realized that we were living with bipolar disorder—and, in my case, not depression. Here I unravel my pre-diagnosis misconceptions, “mistakes,” and hypo/manic misadventures—and that pivotal moment of recognition. My Magic/Manic Moment of Metacognition … The Musical Who wants to open up...
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These artists are talking about their experiences with bipolar and music to help raise awareness of mental health. #1 Sia Singer-songwriter Sia Furler is renowned for her eccentric ways of hiding her face (wigs, masks, paint) when performing, but she’s now very public about her diagnosis and has been open about living with bipolar and...
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With grand leaps and crushing steps backward, I have achieved major goals, enjoyed many adventures, and overcome sizeable challenges. Bipolar may not have held me back so much as spurred me on! I have never followed a solid upward trajectory. The arc of my life consists of fits and starts, of grand leaps and crushing...
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Going to the hospital can be scary and disorienting, but it provides a safe place and the space you need for healing from a severe bipolar episode. Learn what to do before, during, and after inpatient care—as well as what the warning signs are for needing to take action. Whether for yourself or on behalf...
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A lack of sleep contributed to my first manic episode and my bipolar diagnosis. To become stable, I needed to solve my sleep problems—for good. The Functional Purpose of Sleep No longer is sleep just for our beauty. It is a foundational component for our mental well-being, and we cannot take it for granted. I...
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Selena Gomez is no stranger to navigating mental health challenges, from dealing with the emotional burden of lupus to her kidney transplant to bipolar’s depression and anxiety. She’s learned the power of self-care and having the right connections—and how to say “no.” On April 3, 2020, singer and actor Selena Gomez candidly revealed that she...
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Bipolar medication compliance can be complicated. When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t want to take prescriptions every day—I didn’t want to think of myself as “sick” at all. Boy, have I learned a lot since then! Accepting My Need for Medication to Manage My Bipolar Symptoms One of the most challenging aspects of bipolar...
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After 9 years of therapy, I had to switch to a new counselor. Finding the right one is a trial-and-error process, just like with medications. But now I need that safe zone again. Me? Therapy? No, Thanks … Once upon a time, if you came up to me and started talking about going to therapy,...
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It might help to know that I’ve never fully “accepted” the bipolar diagnosis. I still find it shocking that I have a mental health disorder. I’ve yet to find a peaceful place around my mood swings. This means I’m never complacent, and I’m always ready to find an even better way to stay stable. Acceptance...
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Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent coexisting condition with bipolar. In fact, recent studies indicate that more than half of those with bipolar also have a diagnosis of anxiety. The overlap is so striking, medical researchers are questioning whether or not it could be a precursor to bipolar. Either way, chronic worry, stress, and tension...
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Just as I found my footing with bipolar, a new diagnosis knocked me off my feet. I was angry, confused, and—surprisingly—better equipped to process it. Here is how I am working through this big change. I’ve spent most of the past 25 years living with bipolar disorder. Wait. Scratch that. I spent part of the...
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It’s nothing to fear. Acceptance allowed for treatment and stability; then I found myself grateful for the insights my diagnosis provided. Life Before My Bipolar Diagnosis Before my diagnosis of bipolar, I experienced unexplained racing thoughts and dangerous impulses. I shoplifted and got arrested. I racked up thousands of dollars in credit card debt due...
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When I lost my father, I also lost his acceptance of who I am as a person. While trying to accept his death, I’m slowly learning how to accept myself, and my diagnoses, too. Part 2: The Trees Fell—Bipolar, Grief, Loss, & Hope Others’ Grief Grief and loss are universal. Every single human on the...
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After my diagnosis, I was excited to have an answer for some of my past behaviors and mistakes. I enthusiastically reached out to people to apologize and rebuild relationships, but their reactions weren’t always what I expected. Excited for an Answer When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 31, I had 15 years’...
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Do you feel as if you are walking around with the words “bipolar disorder” stuck to your forehead? Or that the diagnosis is a tight box you’ve been crammed into? I don’t. Quite the opposite! Here is how my diagnosis set me on a path to freedom and healing. What’s in a Name? I often...
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Having bipolar can rock your world, but take heart—there are some pros to all the cons. Feeling Overwhelmed? A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is a tough pill to swallow. From pharmaceutical decisions to disclosure decisions, it can become a frazzling time of anxiety, frustration, and upheaval. That feeling of brokenness can be hard to shake,...
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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...
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At times, bipolar can be a limiting illness, and I grieve over the adjustments I have to make. But I can live with the grief. Life is better when I’m stable. I never really get used to having bipolar disorder. It’s a true chicken-and-egg scenario. I get better and then try to do more things,...
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