Tag: Inspiration

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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”

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Then & Now: A Story About Friendship and Mental Illness

It was six years ago that I had my first major episode with bipolar disorder while in College.  I was  living with a group of girls who this story is about. In the last month before I withdrew from school, I kept my struggle hidden from others, especially myself.  Two days before I left, my parents were called by two of my friends.  They told them that I was falling apart.  Day by day I was getting worse.  They realized they couldn’t help me, and decided not to tell the other girls.  I do not like to talk about the pain of the past.  However, a few days ago I learned that sometimes it is necessary to walk down memory lane, no matter how dark the road is…

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Inside the Mind of a Woman With Bipolar Disorder

If you are looking for me to say how much I hate my life with bipolar 2 disorder, you will not find it in this post. It does not define me, but it is a significant part of who I am. If you erase bipolar, you erase me as a whole. I am never going to live without it, and I want to give others a taste of my reality. I do not place pressure on myself to be perfect. I am honest. This is my mind; this is my journey. Here is a little bit of what it is like to live in the mind of a woman diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder.
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6 Stereotypes That Hurt People With Mental Illness

6 Stereotypes That Hurt People With Mental Illness

When a violent crime occurs, it is assumed that the perpetrator must have been mentally ill.  Has someone with diabetes ever killed someone?  Yes, but we do not hear of this in the media.  “His blood sugar was low which caused him/her to carry out the mass shooting…”  Has a young African-American male shot someone?  Yes.  Does that mean that all young African-American males are murderers?  No!  It is natural that we want to blame “others” for negative behaviors, because it refrains us from looking in the mirror and realizing that we are all capable of corruption.  Stigma is a barrier that keeps people with a mental illness from progressing in society. Continue reading “6 Stereotypes That Hurt People With Mental Illness”

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10 Things Your Friend With Depression Wants You To Know

Written by Hannah Blum, author of The Truth About Broken: The Unfixed Version of Self-Love Close friends are the people we create unforgettable memories with. They know us better than we know ourselves. However, what do you do when your friend suddenly disappears from your life? You reach out but receive no answer. As someone diagnosed with … Continue reading 10 Things Your Friend With Depression Wants You To Know

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An Artistic Alternative To Self-Harm: Creating Instead of Cutting

Self-harm is an emotional, and misunderstood topic.  It is difficult to comprehend the logic behind people inflicting intentional pain on themselves.  It is part of the struggle for many people suffering from mental illness.  Self-harm is not commonly done with the intentions of committing suicide.  More so, as a way to release internal pain.   You are thinking, Isn’t that backwards?  Inflicting pain to reduce it?

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8 Bizarre Questions People Have Asked About Living With Bipolar 2

When you are open about your mental health condition, you get asked some interesting questions. In this post I reveal some of the questions I have received that are not only bizarre, but a great reminder of the extreme stigma and ignorance we face in society.

8 Bizarre Question People Have Asked About Living With Bipolar 2 Disorder…

Question: “Do you like have multiple personalities?  If so, can you name them?”

My Answer: “Yes, I have four.  Please-Refrain-From-Speaking.”

It was clear this girl was waiting to ask this question through the whole seminar, and even though I observed her friend making wide eyes at her as she raised her hand, home girl could not resist. There is a difference between personality disorder and bipolar.  Do not lump all mental illnesses into one.  As if…

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