Growing up with a parent with bipolar disorder can bring confusion and shame. Honest conversations help reduce stigma. When I was a child, an ambulance took my mother away one night during a bipolar episode. Thinking back on that difficult period, it’s clear that my deepest pain was often hidden under the crushing weight of...

When someone ignores me, I imagine the worst. Here’s how I stop the negative thoughts tied to bipolar disorder. I have to laugh at the dramatic title that came to mind as I contemplated this post. As someone living with bipolar disorder, it’s something my depressed mind would insist upon, thinking: Of course everyone hates...

Health anxiety can amplify the symptoms of bipolar. Here’s how mindfulness, therapy, and support can help. I’ve always been a bit of a worrier. But when I was 23, my anxiety took an unexpected turn with the deep-seated fears of hypochondria, also called illness anxiety disorder. What Is Hypochondria or Illness Anxiety Disorder? This condition...

Structure keeps us safe with bipolar disorder, but ‘swimming with the current’ of your energy keeps you moving forward. We hear it all the time: Routine is essential for managing bipolar disorder! Keep a steady routine to combat your bipolar symptoms! Do things the same way every day, and life will fall into place! I...

When painful thoughts repeat during bipolar depression, they can feel hard to escape. These strategies can help you break the cycle. My brain has a recording-and-playback groove that starts up whenever I’m depressed. It’s like there’s a negative recording studio in my head, and I can’t turn it off. My “looping depression” opens a channel...