Something I am Proud Of:

The thing that I am most proud of during my mental health journey, is that I have managed to continue furthering my education. Even though I’ve not reached my goal yet and I’ve ran into many different obstacles along the way, I refuse to just give up. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder almost fourteen years ago and since then I have overcome so much. I’ve faced many hardships and I’ve not always been where I wanted to be mentally; but with the help of my family I’ve learned that I can do anything. My diagnosis doesn’t have to define my life. I hope to one day become a Nurse Practitioner and be able to help provide care to other patients suffering from mental health issues. I’ve got this and I’m proud of who I am!

Advice For Newly Diagnosed

For someone who’s just been diagnosed, my main piece of advice would be for you to know that just that you have different needs. This isn’t the end, it’s actually the beginning. You can now learn how to be well. Be sure to listen to your providers, they know a lot and they want to help. If your treatment is working, please don’t stop; let it continue helping you. There are still going to be bad days, but they don’t have to last forever. Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it! Listen to yourself, you know when something isn’t right. Finally, you know yourself best- stand up for who you are!