Since 2010, there has been an increasing number of studies assessing the connection between childhood trauma and the development of bipolar disorder. In a 2020 review, a team of international researchers concluded that "exposure to childhood trauma during neurodevelopment...
I am 60 years old and was just recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Today I am going to my first NAMI support group. I feel hope.
I have been sober and stable on medication for my bipolar since June 2012. Some days are great and some days are an uphill battle just to eat and leave the house.
As someone living with a significant other with bipolar disorder, not only is it a challenge for the individual, but also for their family, friends and caregivers.
I have been a church girl all my life, and the traditions and cultural importance of the African American church community shape who I am. In my community, there is a stark contrast between physical illness and mental illness. I would often hear about people with diabet...
Wouldn’t it be great if you could stop a depressive or manic episode from coming on? Fortunately, for many people with bipolar disorder, they can learn how to sense a relapse beginning, which is the first step in preventing a full episode. What we are talking about here i...
"I’m Ali and I am not afraid to tell my story because I hope it will help others like me who may be silently suffering due to fear of being stigmatized like I have been."
My depression began when I was ten years old. I remember being in my driveway at dusk and looking up at the sky seeing all the different colors and feeling emotions deeper than sad.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a condition that is strongly affected by stress. Episodes of mania and depression can be triggered by significant life events, severe family conflicts, turbulent relationships and situations that disrupt sleep/wake rhythms. This is why it’s pro...
The highs and lows of bipolar disorder can both be extremely challenging. The name of the illness itself recognizes these two sides (depression and mania), but many people don’t fully understand the role of depression in bipolar disorder. Those who do, like our caregiver...
#NotAlone Conversation with Alessandra Torresani and Jay Stolar Discussing bipolar disorder, the new normal and using your voice.
In 2006, I experienced a series of psychotic episodes, ending with my decision to run away from home, where my family would never find me, and end my life. Thankfully, I was committed to inpatient care in Louisiana for three days and brought back home to Mississippi to ri...
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 15. No one in my family had ever heard of this illness.
NAMI and NAMI Greater Houston have issued a letter to The Honorable Devon Anderson, Harris County District Attorney in Texas, calling for an immediate and thorough independent investigation of the egregious treatment of “Jane Doe,” a woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who ...
My name is Daphne. I am about to turn 40 and I have four children. I live with bipolar 1, PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia.
Dear Me, I know you’ve been through a lot in the short amount of time you’ve been on this earth. I know you’re keeping secrets and I know you’re scared and confused. It’s okay for you to feel that way. It’s okay to have a bad day or even many bad days. You’re allowed. And...
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. To me, this means that I experience moods at a more extreme level than the average person. This does not mean that I have terrible mood swings one day and bounce back the next day. It's not that sudden. I have had some friends adm...
I adored my peer support group. I loved seeing the same friendly faces every week, connecting with them through shared experience and helping to foster hope and well-being. I was a leader, a trainer and, briefly, the CEO of our charity chapter. But eventually, I had to s...
Bipolar disorder doesn’t define me. There are also many good qualities that I have. I am passionate. I am adventurous. I am inquisitive. I am empathic. I am creative. Most importantly, I am strong.
Throughout this journey, I’ve learned that you need to prioritize having a good treatment team, cultivating honest friendships and practicing self-care and acceptance.