News and Media

President Bill Clinton once said, “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all.” For the 5.7 million Americans living with bipolar disorder, for the millions of undiagnosed people living in third-world countries, and for us as a society at large, this statement unfortunately rings true. To attach stigma, to perceive bipolar disorder as a disgrace and a stain upon society, is to close our minds. To end this process, we must work to educate the public in order to change perceptions and inspire action.

We have often heard about how advanced and superior the world will be in the future. Much has been talked, written and filmed on how better a place it would evolve to be then; advancements in technology, knowledge and everything in general would lead to better understanding and cohesion. But would it really be a better world for everyone? While it might hold true for many, not all might be able to benefit from it equally.

 All of us have perceptions on seeing things. However, our perceptions are not always consistent with the reality. Finding characteristics distinguishing people from other member of society who we regard as ‘normal’, we often stigmatize them. Stigma is a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something. One of the stigmatized groups is the people with bipolar. The society considers that they are crazy, dangerous, psychos and they should be avoided. Stigma is highly unfair.

I walk into class, my shield a thick blue binder filled with my countless ideas and thoughts; my nature in disorganized paper form. Inside hide the pictures of relief- Cobain, Poe, Whitman, Twain. Others. Success stories. Reminders of what is possible inside my world. Our world.

The bipolar world.

 Anxiety – Which Disorder is it, anyway?

It starts with a feeling of restlessness. I can’t sit still in one place too long. I try to listen to music. Read. Surf the Internet. Nothing catches my interest. The restlessness grows.
Am I hungry?
Am I thirsty?
I try satiating both. Nothing helps.
Now, I’m getting nervous, my heart beats faster. My eyes blink more, darting from here to there, trying to take it all in. What is it that will make this feeling go away?
I know, I have to go to the bathroom.

 To Be or Not To Be....THAT is the Question.......

This year, I had several friends celebrating Mother's Day for the very first time with their newborns. I was so happy and excited for them; starting a family and moving into the next phase of their life. However, I couldn't help but be a little sad because I am not at that point in my life yet. Having children is something that I do want to do eventually, when the time is right.

May 22, 2012

What a great idea, I thought. I’d write a blog for Mental Health week and especially for Mental Health blogging day, May 16, 2012.

Then, I considered what I’d blog about. There are so many topics out there to learn more about and to give information.

 Maybe it’s just me.

 Bipolar Motherhood: What it Means to be “Mom Enough”

They come in threes.