Faces of Hope and Recovery

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

Something I am Proud Of: After being diagnosed at the age of 23, my life was falling apart. I was kicked out of college, lost my girlfriend of three years, and just attended a medical convention in which I felt like an imposter. Even worse, I began to unravel in and...

Something I am Proud Of: I was 30 when first diagnosed with Bipolar type II, comorbid with borderline personality disorder. I finally reached out to a professional help after decades of hesitation thinking that I simply just a very “emotional” person. I was relieved...

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...

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...

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...

Something I am Proud Of: Throughout this journey, I have discovered more about myself than I ever could have imagined. My experiences with depression began in 7th grade and evolved into struggles with suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, self-harm, PTSD, and psychosis...

Something I am Proud Of: I have been living with the diagnosis of Bipolar 1 since 2001. It has been quite the journey and I have learned a great deal in 23 years of managing my diagnosis.    On June 14, 2024, I celebrated 10 years of stability. While it hasn’t been...

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...

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...

Something I am Proud Of: My experience with bipolar disorder has instilled in me a deep empathy for those navigating mental health challenges within the criminal justice system. While my journey hasn't been without its hurdles, such as major depressive episodes and...

Something I am Proud Of: My story of resilience began nine years ago. That was the year I entered law school. They asked me: “are you sure you can handle this?” Hardly scratching the surface of what my Bipolar I diagnosis meant, I said I could. It took me twice as...

Something I am Proud Of: I’m not going to lie, sometimes it is difficult to acknowledge the parts of me that I am proud of. Before, I found pride and value in a lot of external things: my wardrobe, my relationships with others, how I presented on social media. In the...

Something I am Proud Of: What I am proud of in my journey is that I never gave up, no matter how hard things got. I always found a way to power through the darkness after a manic episode, and the trauma that can come along. I have been in a mental hospital 4 times...

Something I am Proud Of: I was diagnosed with Bipolar I at the age of 18 following six years of inexplicable behaviours, emotional dysregulation, and suicidal ideation. In my final year of high school, I dropped five courses, and the future I had always dreamed for...

Something I am Proud Of: I am proud of what was once impossible; some stability living with Bipolar 2 through a consistent routine. After 15 years of drinking, gambling, and yelling at those I love; I no longer drink,I workout 3-5x/ week, eat healthy, sleep 8 hours,...

Something I am Proud Of: There have been countless times where I felt like I just couldn't "do life". In my most recent series of episodes, I quit my job that I once loved, I showered 3 times a month on average, I wore the same clothes I slept in over and over, I...

Something I am Proud Of: Hi, I’m Mariah. I’m 22 years old and I currently live in Italy. Here’s my story of dealing with Bipolar 1 disorder (with psychosis). I got diagnosed in February 2022 after I found myself in the psychiatric ward lying on the bed and...

Something I am Proud Of: After my first and only hospitalization, I learned to be more mindful of my moods, what causes me distress, and to look after myself. Before my hospitalization, I was a “moody,” and “dramatic” person, and of course I still can be those things,...

Something I am Proud Of: Despite my diagnosis of Bipolar I, and despite the highs and mostly lows I experience, I was able to earn a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology which included a 6-month practicum of therapist training in a psychiatric hospital. This...

Something I am Proud Of: I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how I keep pushing on. When I was first diagnosed I was really scared and I didn’t understand my diagnosis. There was so much internalized stigma going on. It’s taken time and effort but I’m finally at a...

Something I am Proud Of: As of today, May 13th 2022, I am celebrating my One Year Out Of Hospital milestone. This is just incredible. Throughout the last seven years, I was treated with the wrong meds and misdiagnosed with BPD (which I don’t have) alongside my...

Something I am Proud Of: I’m a mother. A good one. I practice intentional, positive parenting and try to be as patient as I can. I am always thinking of how situations affect my child. This is drastically different from what I had as a kid, where I was an extension of...

Something I am Proud Of: I’m very proud of how far I’ve come the past year. I’m staying out of the hospital, spending time with friends and WORKING at a job I love (I’m a direct support professional for individuals with disabilities). Meeting these goals hasn’t come...

Something I am Proud Of: I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 at age 19. Since then, I worked hard to educate myself on the illness and accept that it is not something to be ashamed of. I shared about my illness with friends and family knowing that I might need them to...

Something I am Proud Of: I am most proud of how far I have come in my life, as a result of seeking a diagnosis and committing to my treatment. I never imagined I would make it this far into my life, let alone be in the financially, mentally, and physically stable...

Something I am Proud of: When I look back on all my achievements and accomplishments since my diagnosis at 17, what fills my heart with the most joy is being able to help others who are currently struggling with their mental health, by using the insight I gained from...

Something I am Proud Of: I thought if people knew how I felt, I would lose everything. As a kid I experienced trauma, abuse and struggled with addiction. At 14 I was admitted for psychiatric care after a suicide attempt. After that I felt like I needed to pretend...

Something I am Proud Of: After spending time educating myself and seeking support, I feel proud of my understanding of my diagnosis. Learning what works for me has been huge in helping guide me on my mental health journey. I’m also proud of connections I’ve made after...

Something I am Proud Of: I am a shy guy with poor self-esteem, so I didn’t have many friends, was bullied, and traumatized as a kid. Things got worse when I left home to pursue my bachelor degree. I was unaware about my condition and behavior, until it reached climax...

Something I am Proud Of: A victory of mine while having this diagnosis is that I got married, held my job for over a year and love it, bought a house, got a dog, and managed to maintain a lot of stability through it all. My biggest victory is knowing I need to take my...