Something I am Proud of in My Journey: I experienced many years of mental illness symptoms, in and out of episodes of depression and elation, which meant that I faced an uncertain future – one without stability and no guarantee of personal safety. However,...
Author: Matthew Palmieri Having written on the topic of New Year’s Resolutions this time last year, I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect once again on the progress I’ve made since accepting bipolar illness. Re-reading the original post, I see a lot of...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: Getting diagnosed at the age of 14 wasn’t easy. Being told that my normal wasn’t “normal” went as well as you could think. The root of my denial was being afraid of the stigma that came with the disorder. I didn’t think...
Author: Greg Rennie To disclose or not to disclose, that was my question. A few months ago, for the first time in 27 years, I publicly disclosed I live with bipolar disorder in an article for a business magazine. I held my breath and took the risk as a...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: The proudest moments of my Bipolar journey were acceptance/opening up, getting back up from the lows, and being able to spread my wings. One of the hardest obstacles to overcome was accepting my inherent flaws. Coming from an...
Thank You, Volunteers! Annually, IBPF and our community members volunteer at the Carlsbad Marathon! We gather to cheer on the runners, connect with one another, and engage in conversations about mental health. It is a beautiful morning in which we allow every...
Author: Charles Kelly Living with bipolar disorder has been a journey of challenges, revelations, and profound personal growth. After my initial manic episode, I struggled to trust myself; every emotion felt like a potential warning sign. Over time, I realized...
Author: Subrina Singh Let’s talk about it: trust. One of the most overused words, with meaning deeper than we can begin to understand. Trust. A word encompassing multiple feelings and a word full of such depth but still causes great confusion. When we are...
Author: Sam Bowman The constant buzz of notifications and the allure of social media can be overwhelming — especially for those living with bipolar disorder. While digital devices provide a convenient way to stay connected and informed, excessive screen time...
Author: Melissa Howard A brief explanation of how the International Bipolar Foundation explains psychosis. In periods of psychosis a person may show signs of being out of touch with reality, and may say, hear, see, or believe things that don’t match reality. I...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: The part of my journey with Bipolar Disorder that I am the most proud of is how far I have come since my diagnosis. Looking back it is clear to me now that I have always suffered from bipolar disorder. I played sports from the...
Author: Mallory Beckwith, LPC Sober living was a transition period for me. I was there for a total of nine months. I was staying sober from drugs and alcohol, going to IOP, and yet I still had not been formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Sobriety was the...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: Something I’m proud of is beating the negative stereotypes of taking medication for a mental illness and being diagnosed. My family is considered headstrong so mental health was brushed aside sometimes. Leading up to my...
Author: Claire Gault With an oft-labeled useless bachelors in English Literature, panic set in after college. I spent cumulative days on Indeed, scrolling through postings for receptionists and call center operators and teachers—I was overqualified for much of...
Author: Charles Kelly Life with bipolar disorder has been filled with highs and lows, and even when I’d managed my symptoms, I found myself facing a deeper struggle—a lingering distrust of the stable version of myself. The manic episodes had cast shadows,...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: Transitioning into entrepreneurship at 30, I was concerned that sharing my personal journey might affect how my clients view me. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support and the admiration from those...
Author: Matthew Palmieri In managing bipolar, I’ve learned that music is a crucial part of my ongoing recovery. When I discover new music, it gives me hope for the future, helping me avoid rumination from memories past. There are, however, songs that I can go back to...
January 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM PT Register for the free webinar with Tina R. Goldstein, Ph.D, here. Up to 50% of youth with bipolar spectrum disorder (BD) attempt suicide, and of all psychiatric diagnoses, BD imparts the greatest risk for death by suicide in youth....
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2020, but my psychiatrist told me that I could have already had it in my teens. I live in a society where mental health is considered a taboo, enveloped with stigma that further challenges...
Author: Melissa Howard There are many aspects to my daily life that I can attribute my many years of stability to. The skills I have acquired did not happen overnight, it has taken me over two decades to discover and implement a care plan that was realistic and...
Author: Gregg F. Martin, PhD Ten years ago, I received a call on a Friday afternoon from my 4-star boss’s aide. He said, “The Chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] wants to see you on Monday morning at 1000 hours in his office at the Pentagon. I was a 58-year...
Author: Thiago Genaro I like to use metaphors with my patients. I think it helps translate some of the raw technical medical knowledge and helps draw parallels. I love it when my ophthalmologist explains the prescription of my glasses to me through comparisons...
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: I have been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 since 2005, even though living with it hasn’t been easy, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a professional book writer(7 books already published),a motivational speaker,a mentor of life and a...
Author: Ivory Smith Causey On a clear midnight sky there are stars twinkling and the moon shines bright in the vast expanse. It is dark but not black. However, in a severe depressive episode, unlike the midnight sky, there are no stars or no moon. There is only...
What I’ve Learned About Myself: Before my diagnosis, I was an overachiever, who spent many years as a people pleaser. I was bad at setting boundaries and often spread myself too thin. I never considered my mental health as something that I should prioritize...
Author: Lisa Rabey At the suggestion of my current therapist, I decided to try group therapy. His suggestion was based that while I saw him once a month for check-ins, a regular meeting with my peers could be helpful if I was not in crisis. His reasoning is by...
We are grateful to all who joined us at Starry Night, and we deeply appreciate you and our generous sponsors who support the work that we do throughout each year. We sincerely thank Paul English, our featured speaker, for his inspiring and insightful sharing of his...
Author: Shirley A. Solanka The ancient words of consolation and reassurance echo, whether from Sunday school or portrayals of graveside services on TV: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” These words are from the Twenty-Third Psalm, the most well-known of a...
Something I am Proud Of: One of the moments I’m most proud of in my journey managing Bipolar Disorder 2 was when I decided to share my story publicly for the first time. After staying silent for 2.5 years following HR’s advice to keep my diagnosis hidden, I finally...
Author: Matthew Palmieri Living with bipolar can feel isolating, especially during severe depressive episodes. Connecting with others during these periods, particularly online, has been a game-changer. Understanding I’m not alone, while having a safe space to...
Author: Lexie Manion A couple months ago, my entire life changed. I left my life as I knew it behind and started my new chapter pursuing my Master’s in Art Therapy. This career path has been my dream since I was a teenager. In my early eating disorder and...
Something I am Proud Of: In the early stages of my illness, I spent years living with a constant feeling of desperation. It was so overwhelming that it clouded my judgment and made it impossible to see any hope for a brighter future. Waking up each day, overwhelmed...
Author: Sam Bowman For people with bipolar disorder, attending large-scale events can seem overwhelming. However, bypassing large gatherings like conferences or trade shows means missing out on opportunities. Instead of avoiding these events, protect yourself...
Author: Mallory Beckwith, LPC Can two individuals with bipolar disorder have a healthy relationship and make it work? The answer to this question is yes. But it may take extra time, effort, forgiveness, compassion and even counseling. Take my husband and I for...
Something I am Proud Of: I am proud of myself for my sheer will to get diagnosed with the help of my compassionate and amazing aunt. I have been ignored; turned away by so many doctors for having anxiety or a panic disorder since I was 19 that I was hopeless. I truly...
Author: Charles Kelly Upon starting college, I first needed a way to quiet my mind. This meant taking days off and being kind to myself by investing time into going to the golf range, learning the piano, and even participating in groups I didn’t like...
Mental Illness Awareness Week Millions of people worldwide are affected by mental illness, impacting not only those who experience them but also their families, friends, and coworkers. During the first week of October, Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) emphasizes...
Something I am Proud Of: From my teen years on, my moods and behavior were an omnipresent issue in my life. Although I excelled academically in high school, my relationships were extremely volatile, a pattern that would continue into my tumultuous college years....
Author: Melissa Howard Raising children is accompanied by an abundance of emotions. Anywhere from excitement, love and joy, to the less talked about, sadness, exhaustion and loneliness. Parenting does not come without its challenges. From conception or...
Something I am Proud Of: After moving for the 3th time in 1 year, losing my cherished job as an art teacher, another broken relationship, hardly sleeping for months, drowning in a crippling depression, while slipping into psychosis, I’ve got diagnosed 10 yrs ago. With...
Hey there Che’, I know there has been a lot going on lately, and I just wanted to travel back in time and let you in on a few things you’ve realized over the last 20 years. Buckle up and get a pen and paper, you’re going to want to take some notes. If you feel like...
I’m sure at this age you have no idea what’s about to happen. Your life is about to take a turn, not for the worst, but for the betterment of your growth as you enter young adulthood. So let me give you a few tips that will assist you in navigating this Where do...
Hi young Ricardo, It’s your teen years, and they’re the most difficult ones. There’s a lot of shyness (as part of your personality), discomfort in groups of friends because of your acne, and your insecurities. And you don’t know yet that you will have your...
To my newly diagnosed 16 year old self: There is so much I wish to tell you and warn you, in hopes of preparing you for the journey to come. But even now, 18 years later, tears come to my eyes thinking of the path I have traveled to reach this very moment. I wonder...
Author: Thiago Genaro There is no storm outside. The marriage is at a cool stage. The children are doing well at school. The Labrador puppy brings joy to the house. At work, you were recently promoted. The company’s environment is healthy, constructive...
Author: Mihlali Mqushulu The infamous slump. I for sure know it and cross paths with it at least twice a year. One may call it a burn out or end year fatigue. It is mostly referred to as a sort of depressive episode. And these vary with different people. It’s...
Something I am Proud Of: I have been living with Bipolar 1 Disorder since 2023. However my Journey did not start there. My earliest symptoms started in 2020 , shortly after the birth of my third baby. I was on maternity leave from the military and I had just had...
Author: Matthew Palmieri Depending on my mood state, my sense of self worth can change drastically. While manic, I feel a larger than life sense of purpose. It often feels justified after extended depressive episodes because it feels like my brain needs to...
Author: Ivory Smith Causey Bipolar mania and bipolar depression can affect hygiene and feelings about hygiene. It can be the first sign of the start of mental health issues. I can remember my thoughts, moods and even thesis statements during mania were: I am...
Author: Lisa Rabey I was once fired from my job for my bipolar rage. I was not getting along with my co-workers. I tried so hard to fit in and make the working environment comfortable for everyone. Yet, it seemed no matter what I did, the resentment between us...
