Faces of Hope and Recovery
Featured Story
Sapphire
Something I am Proud of in My Journey:
After a decade of chaos—marked by sleepless nights, manic episodes, drug-fueled anxiety, and the weight of alcohol-driven depression—I finally found an answer: bipolar disorder.
A name for the storm that had consumed my twenties. Completely spent, I reached a point where something had to change. Life was slipping away, and I needed to find solid ground—some way to regain a sense of control.
In the depths of depression, when hope felt out of reach, I came across mindfulness. At my lowest, with nowhere else to go, I started taking small steps forward. Slowly, the climb began. Meditation became my lifeline, my daily practice, and within it, I discovered a simple yet transformative visualization.
I was taught to imagine each thought as a droplet of water falling onto a leaf, which then drifted along a stream until it disappeared into the vast expanse of a tranquil lake. Each thought dissolved, momentarily freeing my mind. And though another thought would inevitably arise, it would be new, different. In those fleeting moments of stillness, I found peace.
This practice, this quiet mastery of letting go, became a tool I now hold close and share with others. It’s not just a skill I’ve learned—it’s a testament to the strength I found within myself. And that, above all else, is something I am profoundly proud of.
Message for the Newly Diagnosed:
Although these life experiences were challenging, they taught me invaluable lessons. I became acutely aware of my vulnerability to stress and began narrowing my inner circle to those I truly trusted and cared about—the ones who had stood by me through it all.
I delved into understanding my condition, learning about the power of food as medicine, exercise as a natural antidepressant, and mindfulness as a cornerstone of wellness.
Despite everything, I achieved a first-class degree in Fine Art and qualified as a Therapeutic Art Practitioner. While that path wasn’t the one I ultimately followed, it laid the foundation for new creative ventures. Today, I work in an art gallery and pursue my passion for painting almost daily—a joy that has become central to my life.
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More Faces of Hope and Recovery
Monica
Describe Something I`m Proud of in My Journey: One of the proudest moments in my journey with Bipolar Disorder was gaining the courage and clarity to truly accept my diagnosis in 2013. Before that, I struggled immensely, often denying my illness, avoiding medication,...
Matt
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Jaka
Describe Something I`m Proud of in My Journey: When I think about my journey and what it took to get from then to now, I feel a mix of emotions. Thinking about my hypomanic endeavors usually brings a smile to my face, and positive vibes engulf me. Unfortunately, they...
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Describe Something I`m Proud of in My Journey: Exercising gratitude in the face of adversity is something I am proud of. During my first and only major manic episode, I was held in a psychiatric ward for 2 weeks. Ecstasy enveloped me, but after that, I entered a...
Jackie
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...
Camelia
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Josh
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: I have experienced two major manic episodes the past few years. During both episodes I experienced hallucinations, lost control of my mind and body, and was so scared that I had to seek professional medical help. I am proud that...
Jocelyn
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: My greatest feat was going to the hospital. Both times I made the personal decision to go and it was also the scariest one. Both times were during my college years. The first time was during the holidays. I remember thinking I...
Trin
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: I am most proud of my resilience in my mental health journey. After a few hospitalizations, 4 years of highs and lows, 6 psychiatrists, 3 psychologists, 15-20 medication changes, 12 hours of evaluations, 10 diagnoses I am STILL...
Thomas
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: At 32, I was hospitalized during my first full-blown manic episode, a moment that drastically shifted my understanding of myself and my mental health. Up until that point, I had been living with a diagnosis of major depressive...
Rachel
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: This post discusses sensitive topics related to suicide and self-harm. Please read with care and reach out for support if needed. I’m actually proud of my bipolar Disorder. It’s made me strong and who I am today. I haven’t self...
Nyla
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: Existing in a world where several days are seemingly impossible to conquer, there is optimism in light... For me light stems from gratitude, which is what I am most proud to have practiced throughout my Bipolar journey. The...
Rachel
Something I am Proud of in My Journey: If I can be proud of myself for one major thing, it would be my resilience in looking for treatments and help throughout my mental health journey. It has not been easy. I was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder when I was 19 years...
Paul
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Sidney
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 that I...
Shawn
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...
Ben
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...
Leshondra
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 diagnosis...
Samantha
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...
Jen
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...
Beatriz
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...
Nina
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 until I...
Michael
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...
Daniel
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Zeynab
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Jack
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Jorine
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Tasjenee
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...
Ned
Something I am Proud Of: I am proud of how my career has progressed since my diagnosis. I was diagnosed in 2019 almost a year before the first wave of the pandemic. Since my diagnosis AND a few med changes , I’ve been able to succeed at work and be promoted more than...
Charles
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Saskia
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Greg
Something I am Proud Of: Proud of Pushing Through the Fear of Bipolar I’m proud that despite my early experiences with bipolar in my family, I was able to push through the fear, and accept and embrace my diagnosis of bipolar. In the late 1970s, my sister was...
Samantha
Something I am Proud Of: Learn to rest, not to quit. These words have stuck with me through my bipolar I journey since diagnosed at 19-years-old. When I was first diagnosed, I experienced a mammoth wave of both relief – finally putting a name to the unexplained...
Aimee
Something I am Proud Of: This marks 25 years since being diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder. After I was diagnosed, I was told I would never function fully in life and would be permanently disabled. Sadly, for many years, I believed this narrative. Thankfully, I have...
Gaby
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Betsi
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Angelo
Something I am Proud Of: I am proud of the fact that I can live a balanced, meaningful life with family, friends, music, martial arts, and a career in cybersecurity even with bipolar disorder. I thought my life was over when I had to be rushed to the hospital and I...
Gabriela
Something I am Proud Of: I am grateful for the journey I've been through, for being diagnosed quickly, and for finding the right treatment for me. Ever since I was a teenager, I suffered from anxiety and depression, with crying spells, suicidal thoughts, and impulsive...
Jillian
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