“After I was diagnosed, it took another 3 years before I found what balance of medication and therapy worked for me. I had to try to keep my grades up and maintain my friendships while battling severe mood swings and extreme tiredness, in addition to all of the regular drama that comes along with adolescence.”
Struggled with:
Bipolar Disorder
Helped by:
Medication
Therapy
“When the next depressive episode hit in 2018, I was devastated. How could this happen again when I thought I had it all figured out? I experienced some of the darkest moments of my life and a nearly complete loss of hope.”
Struggled with:
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Suicidal
Helped by:
Medication
Therapy
“I used to have a mindset of: “poor me” – “I’m just a victim” and “none of this is my fault”. Eventually, I knew I had to change that narrative to one of control. I had to take accountability for the things that I could change, and be honest about the things I was doing that were making everything worse.”
“I wish I knew that I was worthy of the treatment and that everything I felt was valid. Because it is, no one is the same. Even with the same condition, we are all different. I was scared of what was happening to me. I was full of hatred, sadness, guilt, disappointment in the world, etc., but sometimes I still am! And that’s valid.”
Struggled with:
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Hate
Suicidal
“Something that I wish I had known earlier in my mental health journey is that my mental illness does not need to define me. I stopped using the phrase ‘I am Bipolar/BPD’ and instead I say, ‘I have…’ I did this when I noticed how overidentifying with my diagnosis was hindering rather than helping me.”
“I skidded on my face and tore ligaments in my knee and shoulder. Other injuries include several broken bones in my pelvis and my skull had a fracture from my hairline to the top of my head. It took several stitches to close up a head wound. I sustained a contrecoup head injury.”