12 Things I Want Others to Know About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder has robbed me of so much. While the mood disorder is characterized by extreme ups and downs or highs and lows, there are various emotions intertwined within these highs and lows. Every time I try to explain to someone what it’s like to live with this disorder, I feel myself getting choked up. […]

6 Tips for Dating With Bipolar Disorder

During my last relationship, I wasted no time telling my new partner that I have bipolar disorder. I went into great detail during our first date about what my diagnosis meant. To some, disclosing that you have a mental illness on a first date is too soon. However, for me, the timing felt right. That […]

What a Bipolar Manic Episode Looks Like

I’m not sure when I experienced my first manic episode but after I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a lot of the behaviors I exhibited in the past began making sense. Over time I became self-aware and could identify when I was having a manic episode. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme highs (mania) and […]

How to Practice Self-love When You’re Depressed

This past week I’ve been in a deep depression and it has caused feelings of worthlessness and not being good enough to surface. For years I’ve struggled off and on with loving and even liking myself. I’ve treated myself like shit both mentally and physically. In my blog post “A Journey to Self-Love”, I discussed […]

When to Disclose Your Mental Illness to Someone You’re Dating

I’ve always been open about living with mental illness with anyone I’m romantically involved with. In my last relationship, I told him after our first date that I struggle with bipolar disorder. I’m sure many people would advise against this but the fact that I live with mental illness is not something I hide. I […]