Describe Something I`m Proud of in My Journey:

I am most proud of my strength, resilience, and determination. My journey with bipolar has not been easy, but I am so proud of the person I am today and the life I have created for myself.

I got my diagnosis in April of 2022 following a severe manic episode and psychosis that resulted in a 5-day stay in an inpatient crisis stabilization unit. Leading up to this, I had been incorrectly diagnosed with just depression and anxiety and had been on and off different medications for years with no long-term improvement. I began having depressive episodes in high school and started abusing substances in college. I’ve always been high-functioning and good at masking, so people weren’t able to truly see how badly I was struggling. Reflecting, I also wasn’t ready to fully admit how bad it was and felt immense guilt that I couldn’t just be “normal.”

Fast forward to 2022 when my symptoms became so severe I had no choice but to lean on my support system wholly. Together, my friends across the country, my mom, and my roommates collaborated to help me get to the crisis stabilization unit, where I was able to start to heal. Discovering I have bipolar put my whole life into perspective. Even though I knew the road to recovery would be difficult, I was committed to getting better. It took a while to get back on my feet, but things started to look up once I found a good medication combination.

This, combined with therapy, sobriety, meditation, regular exercise, and my support system, has allowed me to thrive today. I’m thankful to have an amazing career that helps my community, to live independently, to be a pet parent, to have amazing friends and a loving partner, and to genuinely love my life.

Having bipolar can still be difficult, and it’s something I’ll have for life. I still experience episodes, but they are less severe, and I know I can handle them with my treatment plan and the support of my loved ones. I’m proud to be a mental health advocate who helps to break down stigma and living proof that it does get better.

Message for those who are Newly Diagnosed:

Getting your diagnosis can be a freeing experience if you allow it to be. Not knowing that you have bipolar doesn’t make it go away, and now you have information that can significantly improve the quality of your life with the proper treatment plan. Look back on your past experiences with empathy and compassion. Be proud of yourself for how far you have come, and move forward with hope and confidence.