Teen Mental Wellness Day March 2nd: Statistics and Resources

Teen Mental Wellness Day is March 2nd. Please read or watch a video to learn more about it, statistics and resources. TikTok Video Instagram Video Tumblr video Clapper Video Twitter (X) Video

Eating Disorder Awareness Week Information

Video on Tik Tok Video on Instagram MOST COMMON EATING DISORDERS Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa Pica Disorders: Binge Eating Rumination Avoidant/Restrictive Purge Eating Night Eating Syndrome OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder) STATISTICS Ref 1 16% of adult patients screened positive for an eating disorder.  Anorexia has the highest case mortality rate and second-highest …

Guest Post: Resiliency When Dealing With Bipolar Disorder by Christine

We, the mentally ill, have amazingly strong shock absorbers. An individual needs to be very resilient when dealing with bipolar disorder. Currently, I am experiencing a mixed episode which means I shift back and forth between mania and depression. This can be charted by hours or days. I stay connected to my psychiatrist and therapist …

Guest Post: Physical Training and Mental Health by Mind Muscle Pro

Wellness is not limited to physical training but that’s where my journey began. For most of my life I’ve grappled with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. My journey included multiple suicide attempts, repeated hospitalizations, and many failed attempts to treat my illness with various medications. I consistently self-medicated with drugs and alcohol and secretly lived …

Guest Post: Gaslighting and Insecurities in a Relationship by Amber Weiss, LMHC, Founder of Transformative Mindset

Romantic relationships can come with many highs and lows. You can oscillate between feeling very confident and then insecure. Insecurities can come from unresolved internal issues, such as low self-esteem, fear of abandonment, trauma, and general anxiety. When these issues are not dealt with, they can topple over into your relationships. Insecurities in your relationship …

Guest Post: Interview with Producers of Spiral- Bipolar Documentary

Who are you? Randall: I'm Randall Scott White, I was married to a wonderful woman named Michelle who fell ill over time from bipolar disorder that went undiagnosed until it was too late.  Jennifer: I'm Jennifer Hutchins, the producer. I met Randall in Austin in late 2019 and he showed me over a decade of home video …

Guest Post: Interview with Carolyn Skowron, Author of Unbreakable: Breaking the Silence, Finding my Voice, Sharing my Story

How did you get through the most depressing times?I think having support and love from friends and family is so important in going through hard times. My best friend in the entire world is the reason I am here today. Everyone needs support and someone to talk to regardless of it being friends, family, significant …

Guest Post: Setting Boundaries by Breakdown Club

Setting Boundaries Boundaries are a way of taking care of ourselves. When you understand how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, you can avoid the feelings of resentment, disappointment, and anger that build up when limits have been pushed. If you’re not sure how to go about creating boundaries or effectively uphold existing ones, then …

Guest Post: A Letter To Police Officers Regarding the Mentally Ill by Nancy Boucher

I have learned these lessons on the front lines as a Mom, and the road ahead in helping those in crisis with serious mental illness A person who has a serious mental illness and is in crisis may be experiencing paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and be feeling threatened and fearful. Their brain is not functioning normally. …

Guest Post: The Difference Between Mental Health & Mental Illness by Amelia Blackwater

What is Mental Health? Mental health reflects “our emotional, psychological, & social well-being.”  Mental health can affect, how we think, feel, & act.  For example, if we are having a day where our mental health is bad, it can have an impact on our self talk, how we interact with others, handle problems, & make …

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 …

Guest Post: 27 Self-Love Tips from a Therapist by Heather

Loving yourself is hard, but it’s something that everyone wants to do.  We all know that loving ourselves is important, but how can we actually go about doing this? If you’re like most people, then you’ve probably struggled with self-love for a long time and have tried dozens of different ways to make yourself feel …

Guest Post: Bipolar Is Not An Insult, It’s A Medical Condition by Anonymous

Language matters. We hear people refer to the weather as bipolar.  We hear people call their toddler’s tantrums bipolar. We hear people joke that their unreliable cars are bipolar. I get it, no one is perfect, and I highly doubt the people using that language are trying to be hurtful. Unfortunately, what I hear most …

Guest Post: The Art of Playing for Good Mental Health by Lou Farrell

The Art of Playing for Good Mental Health Have you forgotten how to play? When we suffer from mental illness, play often goes out the window, but we need to play to gain good mental health; it is vital for refuelling our brain with positive thoughts and increasing our self-esteem. Table of Contents What is …

60 Mental Health Quotes that Inspire, Encourage, or Educate #10

I enjoy taking pictures and then adding quotes to them. Some of these are my own quotes, but most of them are from other people and I have given them credit. Disclaimer: I used Canva to make many of the designs. 54 until here For More Quotes:50 Mental Health Quotes that Inspire (#1)65 Mental Health Quotes …

Guest Post: 7 Powerful Ways to Overcome Anxiety by Reena Goenka

Anxiety is the wave of emotions and physical responses you experience when you feel out of your comfort zone or when you feel threatened by a circumstance or person. Clammy hands, shortness of breath, and dizziness are common symptoms of panic along with a strong desire to escape. Sounding familiar? You are likely here reading these …

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 …

How a Daily Routine is Helping me with My Bipolar Disorder

I have been struggling with depression and or mania for almost 40 years now.  Every time I go through a manic cycle, I learn more and more. I learn things that will make it better the next time around.  About 3 months ago, I decided to work on my daily routine and can't believe how much it …

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. …