Marilyn Monroe: What You Didn’t Know About Her Life with Mental Illness

Written by Hannah Blum, author of “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?” In 1961, a year before her death, Marilyn Monroe wrote a six-page letter letter to her psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson about her time at Payne-Whitney’s psychiatric ward.  “Just now when I looked out the hospital window where the snow had covered everything … Continue reading Marilyn Monroe: What You Didn’t Know About Her Life with Mental Illness

To the Women Who Feel Too Much and Fall Too Hard: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Feel Ashamed

As someone who lives with bipolar disorder, trust me I understand what it is like to feel too much and fall too hard in both love and life. Also, I know how it feels to be rejected, taken advantage of or punished for this way of communicating with others. Whether you have a mental illness or not, many of us can relate to the self-doubt, constant questioning and shame that comes with acting on our emotions. To the women who feel too much and fall too hard, here are five reasons you should not feel ashamed. Continue reading “To the Women Who Feel Too Much and Fall Too Hard: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Feel Ashamed”

‘Van Gogh Is Bipolar’ Cafe: How a Restaurant Explores and Empowers People with Bipolar

I jumped from the couch spilling cereal all over my shirt reaching for my computer both excited and in disbelief when I saw my moms text message, “Must check out this restaurant-Van Gogh is Bipolar!” A small restaurant located in the Philippines named after Vincent van Gogh and designed to capture features of a bipolar mind.

These are the stories of people living with bipolar disorder that get left out of the mainstream media. These are the stories that could one day create a much larger platform for individuals living with mental illness to feel empowered by what makes them different. I have spent the last couple days gathering information about this restaurant, but to start for those of you who are curious about Van Gogh’s connection to bipolar disorder let me explain. Continue reading “‘Van Gogh Is Bipolar’ Cafe: How a Restaurant Explores and Empowers People with Bipolar”

Want to Start a Mental Health Instagram Account? Heres How to Do It

Written by Hannah Blum, author of “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?” You want to start a mental health Instagram account but do not know where to start? Don’t worry, you are not alone!  When I published my blog and created an Instagram account (@hannahdblum), I was in the exact same boat. Instagram is an … Continue reading Want to Start a Mental Health Instagram Account? Heres How to Do It

Beautiful with a Bipolar Mind: An Interview with Author Julie Kraft

One of the best parts of being a mental health advocate is the connections you make to others with a similar passion for life and mental health. I was thrilled when Julie Kraft, author of the incredible book, The Other Side of Me: Memoir Of a Bipolar Mind, agreed to share part of her story with me. She is both beautiful on the outside and on the inside. In this interview, Julie shares her journey with bipolar disorder and opens up about motherhood, love, stigma and how a move from her home in Canada to Germany gave her clarity in a world that made her feel so clouded. Thank you, Julie, for speaking your truth. Continue reading “Beautiful with a Bipolar Mind: An Interview with Author Julie Kraft”