This series is exploring the mania, including psychosis, in manic episodes of Bipolar I and my experience with that in a psychiatric hospital. I was inspired by a poem I wrote during my stay at Aurora Behavioral Health Psychiatric Unit in 2016, “Aren’t You Jealous”. I had been coming down from a manic episode in my Bipolar and was getting sick of...
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Art
Where Bipolar Meets My Imagination
January 25, 2018
By: Nic Fleming
My thoughts turn to the whimsical ideas I have when I’m elevated, or in fact when I’m depressed or perhaps even relatively level.All my life I have always had an active imagination and a type of acute sensory capacity in the context of so many things: the musical journeys I can take in my solitude, the beauty of the ocean and nature, the concept...
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How Art Helped Me Through My Longest Depressive Episode
November 22, 2017
By: Emily McGuigan
*The charcoal artwork featured above is titled "Too Much" by Emily McGuigan*When I’m asked for an example of how I’ve used art therapy in my own recovery, I instantly think of a recent time in my life where my art actually resulted in me discovering some past trauma that I suppressed and also where it resulted in me addressing major...
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#MindYourMind: Find Your Balance
October 4, 2017
For the last seven years, I was more stable than in the past 20 all put together. Nearly three years ago, I started eating more healthfully. A year and a half ago, I started running and strength training. Then I started obsessing over my weight and my food and increasing my workouts to one hour seven days a week on top of working a full-time...
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Finding Solace in Art Therapy
September 1, 2017
By: Emily McGuigan
“If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” ~ Edward HopperAs an artist with Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), I have primarily used drawing and painting to help me cope with and explain traumatic or stressful events in my life, but also to discover who I am as a person. Art allows me to...
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Into the Abyss
October 6, 2016
My name is Roger and I have Bipolar. This was written a week ago, just after the painting was completed. There are times when I am in the “high” of a mania and there are times when I am in the “low” of depression. This painting depicts that frightening time when I am in a flux of uncertainty. I am not quite sure if I am on my way upward into...
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The Soup in My Head
July 19, 2016
"This drawing is called 'The Soup in My Head' and was drawn by my friend Julia. We were having coffee time together and I shared with her my fear of planning something ahead as I often have fozzy, foggy mood, and moodswings, although I take lithium and antidepressants. I mean I have no idea what to expect from tomorrow, it's puzzling, that's why I...
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Ang Aking Paglayag sa Mundo ng Sining sa Kabila ng Kakaibang Kalagayan ng Aking Kaisipan
June 28, 2016
This article is available in English here. Sa kabila ng ilang mga kapansanan sa pag-iisip na tinataglay ko at kasalukuyang nag-gagamot para sa mga ito, masasabi kong hindi talaga ako pala-halubilo sa tao. Mas madalas na gusto kong mapag-isa. Kahit na ganito, hindi ko ito kinakahiya o pinagsisisihan. Pero inaamin ko, na kapag dumadating ang...
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Learning Through Art and Others
June 28, 2016
Apart from the mental conditions I was diagnosed with and am being treated for, I am a recluse and an introvert by nature. Even so, neither of those make me remorseful nor ashamed. I admit though, whenever I am “comme ci, comme ça," I still do try to be a chameleon — blend-in so as not to emit eccentric vibes which may make some people uneasy...
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Celebrating Mental Health Milestones
June 14, 2016
I recently planned my Drug Treatment Court Graduation. In July I will successfully graduate; the courtroom will be full of my guests and other participants. Each member of the seven panel treatment team — including the judge — will take time to give me accolades, followed by a recess in court so that everyone in attendance can congratulate me...
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David Bowie: You'll Always Be A Hero To Me
January 15, 2016
When tormented musicians perish I overrelate. It becomes more about me than the departed. This is about him. David Bowie. The King of ‘Sound and Vision,’ crossed divides of age, fame, race, sexuality, politics, and style with theatrical flair and fun. In his latest video, “Lazarus,” he sings about being ‘free as the bluebird,’ with...
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Messiah Complex
November 25, 2015
Marek Danielewski
My name is Marek Danielewski and I have been diagnosed properly with Bipolar Disorder for about 9 years. While I know I suffered longer, I found ways of self-therapy and treatment. I wanted to submit my art and ideas on ‘bipolar and art’ to the blog to inform, inspire and educate. After some thought I decided to simply put in my art statement...
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