If someone had asked me five years ago how do I manage a mental illness, I would have not been able to give an answer. For years, I was uneducated about mental illnesses or mental health all together. That changed back in 2014 when I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, as well as bipolar disorder. Although, I was shocked and ashamed I...
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Working Toward Mental Wellness
January 11, 2019
By: Tosha Maaks
Remaining balanced when you live life with bipolar disorder isn’t some magical trick and it isn’t some tricky formula that only those who have super powers have figured out. However, stability I can say is a magical place to be after years of living in the rat race of mood swing after mood swing. It took years of practice for me and I am just now...
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Letter to an Old Friend
January 8, 2019
By: Natalia Beiser
Dear Chad,In the early 1990’s, we were such good friends. Outside of my family, I have never cherished anyone more. You supported me through a chilling hypomania and a catastrophic mania. You watched me deteriorate during medication trials and supported me. When I was alienated by many, you remained by my side. You assisted me in coping with a...
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By: Sydney Waltner
More than half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime. But not everyone will receive the help they need. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only forty percent of adults and fifty percent of youth receive the medical help they need. Even though mental illness is common and can...
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By: Jamie Park
Dear Minister of Health and Welfare,I am writing to express my grave concerns over how the nature of mental illness is generally perceived in my country, and how such perception, in turn, has directly penetrated the legislative process in enacting or making changes to legislation. While the former blamelessly seems to be out of your hands, the...
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A Letter to Congress Advocating for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
January 4, 2019
By: Elena Hirsch
Dear Congressman,Illness of any kind can be devastating, causing pain and suffering not just for the affected individual, but for family, friends, and all of those around him. But while insurance companies are quick to provide a treatment route for those with physical illness, the same is not true for those with mental illness. ...
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Navigating Communication During the Holidays
December 17, 2018
By: Courtney Davey, MA, LMFT
The holidays are a wonderful time: family, friends, feelings of good will etc. However, these additions to your schedule also can create high levels of stress. Holiday movies are notorious for making gags out of the difficulties with family as it concentrates on our interactions with them. As we go through the holiday season, living with Bipolar...
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How to Stress Less Even When the Holidays Are Hard
December 14, 2018
By: Andrienne Kennedy
This is the most wonderful time of the year! For many people the holidays signifies happiness, family and fun. But what about those who struggle when holiday time comes around? While the meaning of the holidays is beautiful, it can be a rough time for so many people including myself. When I was a child I loved Christmas, it was my...
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Last Christmas and the People Who Made It Okay
December 10, 2018
By Allison Clemmons Hatch
One of the most difficult seasons for many is upon us. Those of us who celebrate Christmas, not just those of us who grapple with the symptoms of bipolar disorder, have a tough time maintaining any sort of cheerful disposition, for a never-ending list of reasons. For those of us who do experience the ups and downs of bipolar disorder know all too...
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Hello Panic, Still Surprising After all These Years
December 7, 2018
By: Lori Lane-Murphy
Halloween is long over. Tell that to the demon climbing up my ribcage.I’m not sure even the Exorcist himself stood a chance against the terror that clutched at me last night with determined fingers and the express purpose to bring me down.I haven’t had a panic attack like that in awhile. In fact, I haven’t had a panic attack like THAT, I think,...
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