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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One of the most important decisions we make is the person we trust with our hearts and choose to spend our lives with. For a relationship to not just survive but also thrive when one partner lives with bipolar, there are a few foundational requirements. Here is what I have learned so far … We...
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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 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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Friendships grow and change as we do. Some fit our needs at one stage of recovery but don’t when we gain greater health. As you grow in wellness, give yourself permission to explore new friendships while still holding those nearest and dearest close. Friendship Calls for Acceptance & Challenge In 1960, writer and theologian C....
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With the re-release of his best-selling Hurry Down Sunshine: A Father’s Story of Love and Madness, Michael Greenberg updates and reflects upon his experiences parenting his daughter, who lives with bipolar. A best seller when it was first published in 2008, the memoir Hurry Down Sunshine: A Father’s Story of Love and Madness, by Michael...
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Especially in times of high stress, it’s vital to self-reflect and get honest about our bipolar. Overextending ourselves and undermanaging our illness is not sustainable. About to Have a Bipolar “Breakdown”? If you’re new to bipolar and just diagnosed, now is a great time for a plan to recharge without having to blow up your...
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I recently realized that I’d been missing an early warning sign of an oncoming manic episode. It’s not just irritability but intense impatience! The Red Flags of Impending Bipolar Episodes When I’m experiencing an episode, it can be pretty obvious. I exhibit the typical “textbook” bipolar symptoms: When I’m depressed, I stop hanging out with...
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Sometimes I sink into pit of despair, overwhelmed by all the steps I think it takes to improve my mood and feel better again. So, I broke it down into a 1-step process. Yes—just one realistic, doable step. Overwhelmed, Again I am hard-pressed to find a more defeating feeling than when I am at the...
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Both depression and mania can be master manipulators—playing tricks on our mind, convincing us to believe things that just aren’t true. Whether it’s challenging the negative thought loops or recognizing the patterns of fabrications in how we perceive the world around us, simply being aware of the fact that we can’t always believe everything we...
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You don’t have to be diagnosed with bipolar to understand what it’s like to live with it every day. If you have a brain, you can relate. Here’s how the “normal” experience of mood overlaps with—and differs from—ours. If you have a friend or loved one with bipolar disorder, you have probably figured out by...
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Sometimes, bipolar anger gets the best of us. And when it’s out of control, it can damage relationships and careers. Getting a handle on this wild emotion starts with recognizing what sets us off or triggers our fury. Since rage can still be difficult to anticipate, we need to master two peace-keeping skills: diffusing confrontations...
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I used to struggle with social anxiety. I was always on the defense, and I lashed out at others when I felt threatened. By cultivating a respectful attitude, I’ve transformed the way I interact with others, and how I feel about myself, too. Disrespect Is Self-Defeating We all have flaws and are imperfect. Sometimes we...
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Focus and memory problems make it extremely difficult to remember information like names, instructions, family matters, and more. The key to making the information stick is to pay extra attention when you first hear it. According to memory scientist Elizabeth Twamley, PhD, the secret to remembering everything lies in one word: LEAP. L – Listen...
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It’s easy to become the caregiver when you’re married to someone with bipolar. Mark and Giulia Lukach maintain their partnership with empathy and planning. Mark and Giulia Lukach got together in 2000 when they were first-year students at Georgetown University. If it wasn’t love at first sight for the two 18-year-olds, it was darn close....
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Friendships require cultivation and cooperation to thrive. But when one friend also has to cope with a mood disorder, things can be even more complicated. “Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness,” ancient Greek poet Euripides once said. What was true in ancient times still holds true today. Our most valuable,...
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While it can be rewarding and enriching, having a close friend with bipolar can also sometimes be frustrating, and confusing. Here are ways to be supportive—while taking care of yourself, too: #1 Educate yourself about bipolar Learn more about its array of symptoms and the different facets of its treatment. Don’t be afraid to ask...
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Bipolar disorder doesn’t have to be a ‘negative’ in a relationship. It may instead offer profound and meaningful breakthroughs for both partners. There are numerous articles that point to partners who have bipolar disorder as having tendencies toward infidelity, or anger outbursts, but readers need to realize that not every person with bipolar disorder will...
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People living with bipolar need to take charge of their own personal power to self-validate––and NOT seek validation from others by people pleasing. In order to make positive changes, we need to really recognize and identify where our behaviors don’t serve us. If we don’t acquire the self-awareness and desire to change these ways, we...
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The decision to disclose your diagnosis of bipolar disorder is very difficult. Here is everything you need to know before you go public. When it comes to sharing your diagnosis of bipolar disorder, “coming out” is hard to do, but it may be the best thing for you. I stayed “closeted” about my mental health...
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