Faces of Hope and Recovery
Featured Story
Rosario
Something I am Proud Of:
After my first and only hospitalization, I learned to be more mindful of my moods, what causes me distress, and to look after myself. Before my hospitalization, I was a “moody,” and “dramatic” person, and of course I still can be those things, but at least not within the throws of Mania. My overall victory is the fact I haven’t found myself within the walls of a psychiatric hospital for six years since my initial visit thanks to medication, coping skills, and having a better understanding of my illness, as well as myself due to my diagnosis.
Advice for Newly Diagnosed:
This disease bears down on all things that makes us human: our moods, the way we see and experience our world, the way we think, and our ever-changing capacities of energy, will, our imagination, our desires to create, and our determination to live when we don’t feel like living. My advice to the newly diagnosed is to seek treatment with a professional, be honest with them, and try every avenue of treatment available to you that they prescribe to you until you find something that works for you – because you only know yourself, and mental health services are there to get you to a place of base, normal functioning. I would advise you to implement healthy coping skills. Practice a good diet, exercise, and do things that bring you joy.
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More Faces of Hope and Recovery
Lisa
Something I am Proud Of: Despite my diagnosis of Bipolar I, and despite the highs and mostly lows I experience, I was able to earn a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology which included a 6-month practicum of therapist training in a psychiatric hospital. This...
Fatima
Something I am Proud Of: I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how I keep pushing on. When I was first diagnosed I was really scared and I didn’t understand my diagnosis. There was so much internalized stigma going on. It’s taken time and effort but I’m finally at a...
Ellie
Something I am Proud Of: As of today, May 13th 2022, I am celebrating my One Year Out Of Hospital milestone. This is just incredible. Throughout the last seven years, I was treated with the wrong meds and misdiagnosed with BPD (which I don’t have) alongside my...
Michelle
Something I am Proud Of: I’m a mother. A good one. I practice intentional, positive parenting and try to be as patient as I can. I am always thinking of how situations affect my child. This is drastically different from what I had as a kid, where I was an extension of...
Molly
Something I am Proud Of: I’m very proud of how far I’ve come the past year. I’m staying out of the hospital, spending time with friends and WORKING at a job I love (I’m a direct support professional for individuals with disabilities). Meeting these goals hasn’t come...
Mallory
Something I am Proud Of: I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 at age 19. Since then, I worked hard to educate myself on the illness and accept that it is not something to be ashamed of. I shared about my illness with friends and family knowing that I might need them to...
Courtney
Something I am Proud Of: I am most proud of how far I have come in my life, as a result of seeking a diagnosis and committing to my treatment. I never imagined I would make it this far into my life, let alone be in the financially, mentally, and physically stable...
Kathy
Something I am Proud of: When I look back on all my achievements and accomplishments since my diagnosis at 17, what fills my heart with the most joy is being able to help others who are currently struggling with their mental health, by using the insight I gained from...
Amanda
Something I am Proud Of: I thought if people knew how I felt, I would lose everything. As a kid I experienced trauma, abuse and struggled with addiction. At 14 I was admitted for psychiatric care after a suicide attempt. After that I felt like I needed to pretend...
Jessie
Something I am Proud Of: After spending time educating myself and seeking support, I feel proud of my understanding of my diagnosis. Learning what works for me has been huge in helping guide me on my mental health journey. I’m also proud of connections I’ve made after...
Billy
Something I am Proud Of: I am a shy guy with poor self-esteem, so I didn’t have many friends, was bullied, and traumatized as a kid. Things got worse when I left home to pursue my bachelor degree. I was unaware about my condition and behavior, until it reached climax...
Katie
Something I am Proud Of: A victory of mine while having this diagnosis is that I got married, held my job for over a year and love it, bought a house, got a dog, and managed to maintain a lot of stability through it all. My biggest victory is knowing I need to take my...
Ashley
Something I am Proud Of: I’m extremely proud of myself for finally being able to accept my diagnosis and no longer feeling like it is something I need to hide. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder in late 2019, and was in denial until about a year later. I was on...
Amanda
Something I am Proud Of: During the battle of finally getting my diagnosis, I’m extremely proud of my ability to keep fighting to get answers, fighting for anyone to listen and fighting to stay alive. I have always thought my voice was my strongest weapon or super...
Mel
Something I am Proud Of: I was diagnosed with Bipolar I at age 21 after my first manic episode. After my diagnosis, I went 6 years without a psychiatrist as I was lost in the waitlist system. I eventually had my second manic episode, which was more severe. In my...
Jess
Something I am Proud Of: I was diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at 6 years old - I had near-daily panic attacks and was self-harming. My mood issues started when I was 10, but most doctors were reluctant to diagnose a preteen/teenager with Bipolar. Fast forward...
Hannah
Something I am Proud Of: I’m very proud to be at a place in my life where managing my mental illness no longer fears like an insurmountable task and more like a regular part of my daily life. While it’s still a full-time responsibility and can be a lot to contend with...
Beth
Something I am Proud Of: I am proud of myself for having the wherewithal to recognize that something was wrong. I always thought that I was suffering from depression, but my gut was telling me it was more than that. I took the steps needed to connect with my therapist...
Phil
Something I am Proud Of: I am proud that I have been able to maintain a healthy and stable life for the past five years since being correctly diagnosed (though I have lived with this condition for over 20 years). I attribute this to consistently taking my medications...
Ana
Something I am Proud Of: I always thought that my mental illness would get in the way of pursuing my passions and dreams. However, consistent therapy and the proper meds have been game changers for me. After my first year of consistent therapy and meds, I was able to...