Bipolar Disorder Success Stories

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After raising two kids alone and running the family business, this manager stops denying her diagnosis and seeks tools to manage her bipolar I disorder. Raising two children as a single parent. Climbing the professional ladder into the upper executive echelons. Doing it all while yo-yoing emotions made most days a study in fortitude. That...

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Edward Dramberger, PhD turned a thirst for travel into a career in hospitality and tourism. As a speaker, author, consultant and traveler, he has touched down in 180 countries and has lived and worked abroad. His recent book The Destination Diaries: How to Travel for Life describes his travel experiences from around the world—all while...

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Olympian, author and advocate Amy Gamble used her winning spirit, heart and determination to help her overcome her greatest opponent—bipolar disorder When Amy Gamble walked into the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, during the 1988 Opening Ceremony, the young athlete was living her dream. The same spirit and drive that took her to the Olympics...

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Businesswoman Alison’s bipolar depressions were hard on the whole family when her son and daughter were growing up. She still feels guilty. Magnets and decals for sports teams, school mascots, and the honor roll are nothing unusual to see on the back of a family’s car. But when Alison put a magnet for the National...

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She’s run 3 full marathons, 28 half-marathons in 18 states, and 100 shorter races—surprising even herself. Nearly 50 years old and dealing with bipolar II’s chronic and crippling depression, Nita Sweeney could barely jog for 60 seconds. With one determined step at a time and the help of her canine companion, she found her inner...

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For those with a dual diagnosis of bipolar plus substance use, entertainment journalist Conor Bezane has been there, done that—and he compiles inspiring peer stories to share. Entertainment journalist Conor Bezane fell in love with punk rock as a teenager, snagged a Rolling Stone internship in college, and logged six years as a writer/producer at MTV News. Then came...

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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...

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While hospitalized, Terese Marie Mailhot began writing her bestseller, Heart Berries: A Memoir, which 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 looks...

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University fundraiser David Chow 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 Chow. He’d been hospitalized three times in four years for episodes of mania and bipolar depression. Recurring mood swings...

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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...

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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...

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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. 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 at age 26. Now...

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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...

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What do members of the “thrive tribe”—those with bipolar who maintain healthy, fulfilling lifestyles—have in common? 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 countless others who share...

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The retired WWE star, formerly known as AJ Lee, is fighting in a brand new arena: She is telling her story to take down stigma.   Growing up to be a professional wrestler isn’t every little girl’s dream, but it was for A.J. Mendez Brooks. The former WWE star was once a scrawny, awkward kid,...

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Strict scheduling helps the founder of The Stability Network juggle motherhood and running two nonprofits while managing her bipolar disorder, including psychotic episodes. Business executive Katherine Switz was diagnosed with bipolar I while earning her MBA at Harvard Business School. After nearly 20 years in international development and consulting, she founded and runs The Stability...

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Miguel hit rock-bottom two years after his bipolar diagnosis. Now he’s graduating from an Ivy League college. Acceptance was the first important step.   Early in my treatment for bipolar disorder, I had a doctor who urged me to accept my “disability” and pursue more “realistic” career options—ones that did not involve returning to the...

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Katie Dale’s journey into adulthood   By Jennifer Goforth Gregory   As activity director at a senior residential facility, Katie Dale spends her day interacting with people struggling with dementia. When one of the residents was worried that her husband was stuck at home alone, Dale patiently promised to check on his well-being—although she knew...

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Getting a bipolar II diagnosis was a catalyst for social justice lawyer Lauren Burke to start addressing her own emotional pain and self-harming. By Michelle Roberts   At 33, Lauren Burke has an eye-popping list of achievements. That’s due to an almost obsessive drive to help those less fortunate than herself—the product of a deep empathy...