Having bipolar can rock your world, but take heart—there are some pros to all the cons. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is a tough pill to swallow. From pharmaceutical decisions to disclosure decisions, it can become a crippling time of anxiety, frustration, and upheaval. That feeling of brokenness can be hard to shake, but remembering...
READ MORE
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...
READ MORE
Bipolar is 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 the egg scenario. I get better and then try to do more things...
READ MORE
The decision to disclose your diagnosis of bipolar disorder is very difficult. Here is everything you need to know before you go public. Coming out is hard to do, but it may be the best thing for you. I stayed “closeted” about my mental health condition for over ten years, but my bipolar and the...
READ MORE
If people can’t love and accept you for who you are–bipolar disorder diagnosis and all–then they are not the kind of people you need in your life. When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder my family was at a loss of what to do. No one in our immediate family has lived with any mental...
READ MORE
Finding hope isn’t about medications or what doctors say. It’s about getting to know yourself and realizing that you can be yourself, just with bipolar. When I was first struggling with bipolar mood swings, as a child, it felt like most people were constantly losing faith in me. With much difficulty, I seemed to bounce...
READ MORE
As cliche as it may sound, when a recent bipolar diagnosis makes you feel helpless, let optimism help you find hope on the path towards greener pastures. I’m sure the thought has gone through your head at least once: “Why me?” “Why was I burdened with this daunting disorder that I will have to live...
READ MORE
While they reconciled their former hopes and dreams with a new reality after a bipolar diagnosis, this couple discovered they can both live fuller lives. I came home to my world upside down. My apartment entrance had been blocked with music blaring deep within. I finally got inside and found my wife, Katherine, in a...
READ MORE
Sometimes people are unaware that using mental health terms to describe everyday situations can cause harm to people by trivializing those mental health issues. Back in my days of mental health ignorance, when I didn’t know the difference between different disorders and thought everyone with a mental health issue was just “crazy,” certain things didn’t...
READ MORE
What if someone is telling you that you have bipolar, but you don’t think that the diagnosis is correct? A reader asked a really good question on my blog post “Dealing with Bipolar Disorder Denial.” She wanted to know what to do if someone in your life—a friend, loved one, coworker—tells you that they believe...
READ MORE
An initial mental health diagnosis often occurs in college. How parents react and respond can help set the course for their child’s treatment and recovery. College is a vulnerable time for the mental health of young adults. In fact, 75 percent of all mental illnesses are diagnosed by age 24. Anxiety and depression are among...
READ MORE
While “Satur-dates” together help to strengthen Sharon and Clayton’s* marriage, having a good support system and the right doctor help manage bipolar symptoms. Did you know that your husband had a mood disorder or struggled with moods when you met him? When I met my husband in high school for the first time, I...
READ MORE
While finally getting a diagnosis of bipolar disorder may come as a relief, it’s also loaded with questions as to where to go from here: Understand the diagnosis Both you and your spouse finally have an explanation for the confusion of ever-changing moods and an array of other symptoms. And now you also have a...
READ MORE
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed with negativity when you receive a bipolar diagnosis, but it can help to realize there are some advantages Hi everyone! This is is Linea Johnson with bp Magazine’s bphope Vlog.” Today, I will be speaking about the pros and cons of a bipolar diagnosis. Many people fear a diagnosis....
READ MORE
If you are dealing with anger following your bipolar disorder diagnosis, you are not alone—and you can learn ways to manage this symptom. Today, I will again be speaking about the rollercoaster that is acceptance, and specifically, anger. I am sure we’re all familiar with this. You are going along with your life, doing well,...
READ MORE
While you may feel you’ve lost a part of your self-identity after your bipolar diagnosis, you can find your way back to acceptance and “level ground.” So, you’ve been diagnosed. And people are reacting in a myriad of ways. Some people are worried. Some people are supportive. Some people are, well, just acting...
READ MORE
With her daughter grown and stable, Lori* was hit with exhaustion, depression and a financial crisis leading to her own diagnosis at age 58. Q. What made you think there might be something amiss with your daughter? Looking back, my daughter came out of the womb as a difficult child. My first, and only child,...
READ MORE
Adjusting to life with bipolar disorder comes with a sharp learning curve—but with the right tools, you can achieve stability. By Lynda Williams By the time I received my bipolar diagnosis, I had already spent several years under treatment for major depression. The treatment was yielding poor results, so the news was hardly...
READ MORE
For me, my diagnosis of bipolar was accompanied by an overwhelming sense of relief. For my family, who still harbored outdated stereotypes about this brain-based disorder, it meant a complete shift in mentality. I say my life started in 2014 when I began writing about my secret battle with bipolar. Just after telling my parents,...
READ MORE
June 7, 2018 • Volume 11, Issue 23 • Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines Know The Symptoms: One-Size Does NOT Fit All On a tiny Parisian island named Île Saint-Louis, there’s a boutique that sells only one-size-fits-all clothing. When a shopper hesitated before trying on a green shirt, the polite saleswoman said,...
READ MORE
