Guest Post: Postpartum Bipolar Disorder and Using a Vegan Ketogenic Diet for Bipolar Disorder by Dyane Harwood

I was diagnosed with postpartum bipolar I disorder in 2007 after my second daughter was born. I had treatment-resistant bipolar depression, and I tried over 20 meds to no avail. After my father died, I asked for ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) which saved my life. (I wouldn't hesitate to get ECT again if I needed it.)Fast forward to …

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: PTSD vs C-PTSD by APN Lodge

After a few years of unprecedented stress, many of us are struggling to cope. Whether you've had a PTSD or C-PTSD diagnosis in the past and it's being exacerbated by the pandemic, or you're just starting to take a closer look at your mental health symptoms, we can all benefit from more support and greater …

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: Bulimia Nervosa Defined by Emma

Bulimia Nervosa is really difficult to define and has been for years. It dates back in history and was originally classed as an 'ominous variant' (whatever that means) of Anorexia Nervosa. This link to Anorexia Nervosa I do think is important, however, because a lot of people assume Bulimia to be a case of uncontrolled …

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: Why Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder is So Tough by G. Alex Patten, MD

Since its original description over 160 years ago, Bipolar Disorder has been a tough diagnosis to make accurately. At different times called “circular insanity,” “manic depressive psychosis,” and “manic depression,” Bipolar Disorder was not officially recognized as a standalone mental illness until 1980. Now we know that Bipolar Disorder is actually a group of four …

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: 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: Can I Stop Myself from Slipping into the Bipolar Abyss? by Jess Kanotz

Look past the woman with unwashed hair who is wearing a security blanket of a sweater and notice that she made the bed. I'd call that hope. I can feel myself slipping into an abyss. I could be sliding into depression or a mixed state if I can’t stop it from happening. Just so we’re …

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: What Euphoria Feels Like by @that_bipolar.girl

“Euphoria is the experience (or affect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Euphoric mania often releases a surge of super human energy that creates a feeling of invincibility.” - Wikipedia  I think I could write a whole book and tell about every experience I’ve had, but I could never explain how …

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: Bipolar Disorder and Me by Lou Farrell

It has taken a long time for me to come to terms with my diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It was back in 2002, after the birth of my son, that things became a little strange, shall we say. Before 2002 I had been in and out of the hospital with depression; there was the idea …

Guest Post: Interview with Author of Breakdown: A Clinician’s Experience in a Broken System of Emergency Psychiatry

What inspired you to write the book, Breakdown: A Clinician’s Experience in a Broken System of Emergency Psychiatry, that got published in October of 2018?  I’m in my 14th year as a mobile emergency psychiatric social worker. Although most mobile psychiatric emergency cases have involved mentally high functioning patients, I’ve been most invigorated from helping …

Guest Post: What My Hallucinations From Schizoaffective Disorder Feel Like by Katie Sanford

Side Note: Information about Schizoaffective Disorder After 13 years of living with schizoaffective disorder, hallucinations are a somewhat normal part of my life. They are neither constant nor always terrifying, but they do occur even with my treatment regimen. Everyone’s experiences are different, but here’s a look into what my visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations …

Guest Post: Outside Looking In: A Story Told by The Husband of Someone with Bipolar Disorder by Johnny Whitfield

Johnny Whitfield is a former newspaper reporter and editor. For those struggling with a mental health diagnosis, the most important people in their lives are often their caregivers – the people who make sure they take their medicines, get to doctor’s appointments, and help them deal with the basic necessities of life. The responsibilities of …