Author: Elizabeth Horner There are a number of truths about living with bipolar disorder that need to be accepted. One of them is that we do not have the ability to compartmentalize our lives so that bipolar disorder can affect one area of our life and not the...
Happy World Bipolar Day! The vision of World Bipolar Day (WBD) is to bring world awareness to bipolar conditions and to eliminate social stigma. Through international collaboration, the goal of WBD is to bring the world population information about bipolar conditions...
April 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT Register for the free webinar with Dr. Kristin Raj here. Join us for an interactive discussion with Dr. Kristin Raj about ECT exploring the following: What is it? How does it work? What does it treat? Who is appropriate for this therapy?...
April 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT Register for the free webinar with Dr. Joseph Goldberg here. Poor treatment adherence occurs in half or more of individuals with bipolar disorder and is a substantial cause or relapse and poor outcome. Reasons for poor treatment...
May 6, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT Register for the free webinar with Dr. Verinder Sharma here. In this talk, Dr. Sharma will discuss the prevention and management of bipolar disorder in the postpartum period. He will outline challenges in the assessment of females at risk of...
June 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT Register for the free webinar with Dr. Jim Phelps here. Consider the difference between having a *really* good day versus losing contact with reality and risking one’s job, savings, relationships and safety. These are completely...
Author: Brandon Russ Throughout the history of this planet, music has been something used by both individuals and societies at large to convey a variety of ideas and emotions. These include religious and spiritual groups, educational institutions, and the...
Author: Thiago Genaro Have you ever been to Rio de Janeiro? Rio reminds me of tropical natural beauty, carnival and parties. When I think of Rio, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, sailboats in Botafogo Cove, and incredible beaches come to...
April 13th, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT. Reserve your spot here. Saturday, April 13th, is the AMSA at UC San Diego’s 13th Annual Free Health Fair! Join us for a day of health and wellness at Montgomery-Waller Community Park in sunny San Diego, CA, USA. We will be...
Author: Sam Bowman Developing healthy boundaries and coping mechanisms when dealing with bipolar disorder can feel like an uphill battle. Budgeting and managing your platonic, romantic, and familial relationships is already hard enough, but the overwhelming...
Author: Che’ Lang Caring for a child comes with many responsibilities. Being emotionally and mentally stable is essential when teaching a little human the ropes to this complex life. It requires immense amounts of patience, and the ability to stay calm...
Author: Matthew Palmieri Before I committed myself to understanding the underlining emotions characteristic of bipolar, I’d often oscillate between extreme irritability, and a kind of manic frenzy jumping from one task to another without any real consideration...
Author: Sam Bowman For adults, exercise and socialization may be difficult enough propositions on their own; but for aging adults with bipolar disorder, there are times when maintaining a regular, active schedule may seem downright impossible. Sure, it’s easy...
Author: Matthew Palmieri Many years after my initial diagnosis, a simple question popped in my head that would fundamentally change the way I look at my mental illness. I asked, “What would happen if I embraced bipolar instead of constantly looking at it as...
Our dedicated volunteers brought enthusiasm to the event, cheering on runners and engaging in meaningful conversations to raise awareness about mental health. This dual approach not only added vibrancy to the marathon but also contributed to breaking down stigmas...
Author: Sam Bowman For all of us, energy is a limited resource at the best of times. We only have so much capacity to do everything we need in a day – and unfortunately, mental illness can consume most of it. With depression, even the most simple of tasks can...
Author: Birdie Thorn To understand the appeal of Hypomania/mania, you must understand the dread of depression. Bipolar depression is much more than occasional bouts of the blues. It can feel as though you are stuck in the deepest parts of your brain while your...
Author: Brooke Rowland Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides helpful structural guidance for the multi-faceted approach to treating Bipolar Disorder. Articulated in 1943, his theory stated that our needs can be visualized as a pyramid and that the needs at the...
Author: Matthew Palmieri For many, January is THE time to take an honest look at our habits, routines, and other frequent choices that force us to take stock of what works and doesn’t work for our physical, mental, and emotional health. However, for those of us...
Photo: Satiro Sodré/SSPress/CBDA Author: Thiago Genaro “Marcel, I have to go.” Felipe abandoned training, got out of the pool and went to the shower. His head didn’t stop. Thoughts were racing. The restless mind. Inattention harmed the...
Author: Lee Formella I am extremely lucky. On the day that I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I knew I had at least 5 calls to make, receiving nothing but empathy and support on the other end of the phone. Beyond that though, who do you tell? When do you...
Author: Sam Bowman A truly inclusive workplace can positively impact employees and companies alike in countless ways. The stressors that jobs bring to the average employee don’t have to be exacerbated by unacknowledged issues. Employees with bipolar disorder,...
Thank you to all who supported Starry Night 2023, A Star’s Secret Revealed! It was an amazing night of meaningful connection and celebration. We give special gratitude to our featured speaker and 2023 Imagine Award winner, Terri Cheney, for captivating and inspiring...
Author: Alan Monnelly Recovery is not linear. Recovery is not easy. Recovery is the only option. There are so many stages and variables in the journey of recovery from bipolar illness that it is vital for the person on this road to take it one day at a time. In...
Author: Matthew Palmieri It’s the Little Things. Big shifts in our lives can derail us from progress in managing bipolar, but it’s crucial we often look at the little things as well that may cause our symptoms to take over. Are we ignoring the need to eat food...
Author: Sam Bowman Losing a loved one and going through the grieving process is difficult for everyone. But, when you’re an individual with bipolar disorder, experiencing that loss can be even more difficult. The journey of grief can feel like it has more...
Author: Tori Bryl With bipolar disorder, every depressive episode varies in length and intensity, with a fleeting epiphany that holds the key to breaking free. This past summer, I was in a four-month depressive episode— the longest I’ve ever experienced....
Author: Sophia Queen I wanted to start by saying, this road isn’t easy. I forced myself into thinking it would be fine and I would be fine, but many times I’m not. I get glimpses of hope every once in a while but just know that the first diagnosis...
Author: Lee Formella Before I was diagnosed, my obsessions and impulsivities were an unstoppable force. I’d wake up in the morning convinced I was NOT going to gamble that night, despite the triggers of the day. I promised myself if I did drink, I would NOT...
Author: Sam Bowman The sleep-wake cycle is an important factor in overall health. The quality of sleep you are getting impacts several areas of your health, including heart function, circulation, metabolism, respiratory system, and immune system. Sleep even...
Author: Matthew Palmieri After my initial diagnosis in 2014, like many, I felt deep shame. There was this nagging and persistent feeling that bipolar had put me behind somehow. That I had done something wrong to end up here and this was going to be something...
Author: Liz Colvin Being a caregiver is a huge responsibility. My adult daughter has survived the rigorous battle of finding the right medication for schizoaffective disorder with her medical provider. However, while managing the mental illness itself, one has...
IBPF Community Answers As those living with bipolar disorder learn more about their diagnosis and settle into a routine, there are several habits they learn benefit them tremendously. These habits can look different for everyone. We wanted to learn from our community...
Author: Thiago Lopes Genaro Have you ever eaten an oyster? With lemon? Gratin? Were you afraid of food poisoning? Who first looked at this shell divided into two parts and decided to open it? I’m going to tell you a behind-the-scenes story about science. In the...
Author: Sam Bowman Experiencing a professional conflict is never enjoyable. However, it is bound to happen from time to time. A staggering 85% of people experience workplace conflict to some degree. As someone living and working with bipolar disorder, you have...
Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness is now available! “Following decades of achievement, I rocketed into full-blown mania. My boss, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave me a choice, “…resign or be fired…and get a psychiatric...
Author: Thiago Lopes Genaro In his book Breathe – a life in flow, Rickson Gracie, one of the biggest names in Jiu Jitsu and one of those responsible for bringing the sport to the United States, narrates a curious scene from his adolescence. Rickson tells of being...
Author: Elizabeth Horner Bipolar Disorder is a tricky illness, even when we think we have it mastered. Fine-tuning our medications, ensuring consistent sleep, eating well, therapy, and balancing stability at work and in our personal lives can feel like...
Matt Palmieri One of the most challenging aspects of living with bipolar is the phase that follows an unfortunate period of heavily distorted thinking. No, I’m not the CEO anymore. Guess I can’t retire just yet.Oh well. Back to the drawing board!This can be one of the...
Dyane Harwood At the age of fifty-two, I didn’t expect I’d make one of the best decisions of my life. I began a well-formulated (i.e., carefully planned) vegan ketogenic diet specifically for bipolar disorder. I discovered this option serendipitously through a simple...
Dyane Harwood Dyane Harwood graduated with a degree in English and American Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has been a freelance writer for over two decades, and has profiled bestselling authors including Kay Redfield Jamison, SARK, and...
Sam Bowman Everyone wants to live a full life — and everyone also has their own definition of what that means. Everyone also has their own obstacles that they must face throughout life. But overcoming life’s hurdles can add richness and fulfillment to your life that...
Author: Paul English I used to have anger in my teen years and 20s. I learned how to greatly diminish this through Buddhist teachers, from friends, and from personal mindfulness practice. Evolution of Rage Let’s explore my journey with road rage as an easy...
Author: Lee Formella I’m swimming in a beautiful pool with my girlfriend, family, and best friends around me. We’re having a great time, but I decide to get out. When I do, a mysterious and extremely deep cut in my shin appears. I am surrounded by people from my past...
Author: Sam Bowman The path to self-acceptance doesn’t always look like a straight line. In fact, it’s more likely to be paved with inconsistencies. If it were easy to love yourself unconditionally, fewer people would struggle. In the age of social media, it’s...
Author: Niki Castle Disclaimer: Mention of Attempted Suicide The stress of working in television. As kids, we were all asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. I changed my mind so many times. From cardiologist to artist and then an architect. By the time I...
Author: Thiago Lopes Genaro Recently I was reading the Indian guideline for treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). It is from 2017. When you are a psychiatrist specializing in bipolar disorder, you read guidelines from many places around the world – we have the...
Author: Melinda Goedeke I had a beautiful daughter who amazed the world with her laughter, intelligence, spunk and adventure. And she was a liar. She lied to her family, she lied to her friends, she lied to her employers and most painfully, she lied to me. She...
Author: Sam Bowman If you’re familiar with the struggles of bipolar disorder, you want to raise awareness or help others who share your concerns, and you’re good with words and writing, then creating your own blog may be a way to do just that. The fact is that bipolar...
Author: Lexie Manion Disclaimer: Mentions of attempted suicide I am newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder as of 2019 and newly out as bisexual as of 2021. Interestingly enough though, these are two intricate parts of my identity that I have been familiar with my...