GuestPost: Surviving a Major Bipolar Depressive Episode and Finding a Purpose in my Life by Becky Rowland

BiographyI had my first mental illness episode with psychosis symptoms when I was 20 years old in 1982. I had mental illness episodes of extreme anxiety, depression, mania, and psychosis at different times from 1983-1992. I also worked in the mental health field for three years during this time, helping mentally ill patients in hospital …

Blogs Written by The Parents of Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Bandit's Story My mom wrote these: (Click on title to be brought to the article.) Part 1 How having a mentally ill child affects the family. Part 2: Trying to Figure out What was Wrong with my Daughter Part 3: My Daughter’s Diagnosis and my Reaction HOW I DEAL WITH HER MANIC EPISODES Part 5: The next Manic …

Guest Post: 7 Common Myths About Bipolar Disorder: Busted by Nidhi Thakur

Today every one in five people is diagnosed with a mental illness, including bipolar disorder. For those who still don't know, bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that's thought to be caused by an imbalance in the way brain cells communicate with each other.  This imbalance causes extreme mood swings that go way beyond …

Guest Post: Travelling With A Mental Illness by Em

Travelling can be a joyous experience filled with adventures, laughs and the opportunity for unique memories to be created. However, travelling is not excluded from the stress we experience in day-to-day living; it only presents itself in a different form. “Have I packed enough clothes?” “What will the weather be like there?” “What is the …

What to Say and Not to Say to Someone who is Suicidal

This YouTube ( video also on IG and pinned on TikTok: see below) video gives you ideas of what to say to someone who is suicidal and things you should not say. It also provides Suicide Prevention Hotlines. 988 is the new National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the USA International Suicide Prevention Hotlines https://youtu.be/GpZ8jesmJAQ

Guest Post: A Personal Story About Anxiety and Depression and How Science can be Used to Help with your Well-Being by Nicola

What Is Depression And Anxiety? Understanding The Science To Emotionally Regulate And Support Your General Wellbeing. Two words commonly expressed when discussing Mental Health. Yet are these merely normal emotions everyone feels on the emotional scale, and if so, how do you differentiate between feeling Depression (low mood) and Anxiety (nervous) to having disorders? As …

Stressed? Try the Canva Code

If you have found this blog, WELCOME! I am MIchelle Lande Clark and have been blogging under the pseudonym "Bipolar Bandit" for 10 years. I have struggled with Bipolar 1 Disorder for 35 years. I am NOT trying to get you to buy anything. I aim to inspire, educate, and encourage those with mental illnesses. …

11 Tips to Keep You Mentally Healthy and Prevent Burn Out

It is important for your mental health not to burn out. Please watch this VIDEO on Pinterest to get some tips to avoid burning out. Also, Tik Tok VIDEO Instagram Facebook Twitter

My Recent You Tube Videos: Please Help Me to Help Others and Check Them Out!

Note: I am trying to build a YouTube following and finding it very difficult. Please help me by liking and sharing. SUBSCRIBING would be so appreciated. I am hoping that my videos inspire, encourage, and educate others. If you have a YouTube channel you want me to subscribe to, please email me at BipolarBandit@gmail.com Inspirational …

How to Deal with Setbacks

Everyone has setbacks in life, but it is what we do with those setbacks that matter. We could just let them make us feel like a failure and prevent us from trying again. However, the best thing for our mental health is to not let them defeat us. When dealing with a mental illness, some …

Educational Material about Bipolar Disorder for World Bipolar Day

World Bipolar Day is celebrated every year on March 30th in honor of Vincent Van Gogh's birthday. It is believed that he suffered from bipolar disorder. If you want to read more about it click here. Below are slides to a VIDEO that I prepared to help educate people about bipolar disorder. It includes how …

Guest Post: 21 Tips From a Therapist for Dating Someone With Depression by Lisa Batton

Picture Credit E-Counseling Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness. According to recent research, over 20% of people in the United States have experienced at least one episode of major depressive disorder in their lifetime. With symptoms including sadness, apathy, low energy, and reduced libido, it’s no wonder that depression can take a …

Getting Through Life with Bipolar Disorder Takes a Champion!

Having bipolar disorder is not easy. The lows are sometimes unbearable and the highs wear me out. The depressions have made it hard to function and it takes all my strength to get through the day sometimes. The manic episodes are awful and have lead to damaging things. For example, I have lost relationships, spent …

Reasons Why People Don’t Reach Out for Help if They Have Bipolar Disorder

When someone has bipolar disorder, there are several reasons they won't ask for help. Here are some of them: 1. They have reached out before and it made things worse because either they felt guilty afterwards or the help they received was not beneficial. 2. They are embarrassed 3. They are afraid they will be …

Things to Say and Not to Say to Someone who is Depressed

If someone tells you they are depressed and you know it is clinical (although some of these things might help if it is situational.) there are things you should say and things you shouldn't. Before you do anything, however, make sure they are not a threat to themselves. If they are, please call the National …

Accomplishment: A way out of Depression

Have you been putting something off because you are depressed? Have you been procrastinating because it is easier to stay in bed than take that first step forward in getting something done? Would accomplishing something feel better? When you are depressed it is easy to just put things off by just staying home or in …

A Driving Force Behind Depression and What can Be Done About It

There are many causes of depression, and many things that play a role in preventing it from getting better. Avoidance is one of those things that is a driving force behind depression and prevents someone from getting better. While depressed, it is easy to simply deal with it by avoiding it altogether. It starts with …

Depression Tips Re: Wake Up Routine

If you are struggling with depression, a great thing to try is to change your morning routine. First, it starts with brisk awakening. The key is to get up at the same time every morning. Then, establish a morning routine. Lastly, engage in an energizing activity. Brisk awakening helps concentration, energy, depression, insomnia, alertness, and …

Make Things Happen: Change Yourself and the World

As we start a new year, we have the opportunity to make this world a healthier, less divided, friendlier place to live not only in 2021, but for generations to come! It all starts with you, the person reading this. You can start by making the world healthier by exercising, eating healthier, going to your …

My Two Sides of Depression

One side is when you are around people and pretend like nothing is wrong. You act like you have everything together. You smile, but deep down you are hurting. This is depression, but people have no idea that you are struggling because you don't let them in. This is dangerous and can lead to suicide. …