Before I had a name for my mental illness — bipolar disorder and ptsd — this is what it felt like: playing diagnosis dress-up, trying on labels, seeing how they fit, and feeling lost — like there was nothing left in my closet to wear.
I’m not an expert on mental health, addiction, or suicide. I’m a survivor.
I don’t know when it started. It was not as though I suddenly woke up with a raging heartbeat and butterflies in my stomach, wishing I could run away from myself. It came in tiny bits of worry.
Therapists have told me that I use these repetitive behaviors as way to avoid facing my fears.
I have bipolar disorder and I’ve written a book about my experience living with bipolar disorder and depression.
by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell
Rudy Caseres is a mental health advocate who lives with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
A journey from dark days of mental health institutionalization and repeated electroconvulsive therapy treatments, to a successful advocacy career.
by Katie Dale
On losing my mind with bipolar disorder, the bottom line is this: I need to take my medication, no matter how much faith I possess.
Managing bipolar disorder behavior involves more than medications. Changes in mood are affected by factors in our environment.
A therapist writes with humor and passion about her struggles with panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, and an eating disorder.
After traveling with depression, I know that I am a powerful being who overcame the dragon blowing fire into my brain. I fought, and I won.
I should probably explain a few things. I’m not crazy. I suffer from major depression, as well as generalized anxiety disorder. I’m basically a shut-in.
by Mike Hedrick
Say the words “psychiatric hospital” to the average person and the hair on the back of their neck might stand straight up.
by Mike Hedrick
Living with schizophrenia, I’ve been through the full gamut of side-effects. New side-effects pop up to say “hello” with each medication I’m prescribed.
by Liz Spikol
The severity of my depression in the wake of losing my job solidified the notion that, for people with mental illness, having a job can make all the difference.
Yes, I have schizophrenia. But I don’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself because I have schizophrenia, and life can be difficult sometimes.
by Mike Hedrick
The pain of being labeled crazy doesn’t present itself as one big sweeping hurt, more like a series of small little jabs as you go through your days.
It’s been exactly ten years since my bipolar disorder breakdown. These years have been hard work but they have brought tremendous joy and peace
My name is Meg Hutchinson. I’m 38 years old. I’m a singer-songwriter and poet. I’ve been living with bipolar disorder since I was 19 years old.
An interview with Witold Walczak, the legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania about mental health and prison reform.
