Daily Archives: March 30, 2015

Today I reached over 5000 views on this blog. Woohoo! I started this blog because I wanted to tell my story, because I was tired of semi hiding the fact that I had bipolar d/o. And most importantly, I started this blog so that other people who have mental illnesses might read my posts and find some comfort in them, find some help in them, some solace and strength. Thank you viewers, readers and friends for reading Bipolar1Blog!

 I am a Mom, a Molecular Biologist, I have an MSEd. I act in plays, I love to take pictures. I also have bipolar disorder type 1. Yes this disease has taken a toll on me, my life and my loved ones. But I fight it daily. I will never let it win. I am stronger than this illness. I did not choose to have this disease, but I do choose to never let it vanquish me. I choose to live my life with as little interference from this illness as possible. And I want to tell everyone with mental illnesses that if I can try and succeed, not totally, but to a large extent, then so can YOU!

This is the second annual World Bipolar Day. It’s a day to raise awareness of bipolar disorders and the people who live with them. It’s also a day to educate the public in the hope of eliminating the stigma surrounding ALL mental illness. And the only way we can do that is to speak out.

The date was selected because it’s the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, who was diagnosed posthumously with what is believed to have been manic-depressive illness. For my part, I’m proud that people with this disorder are finally talking about it instead of hiding in a closet. Much of what our society believes about bipolar is wrong, and those of us with lived experience are the best source of information; but putting ourselves out there can still be risky for us due to discrimination in employment, loss of friendships and changes in our social status. I have experienced all three, so I know that prejudice against the mentally ill is very much alive and well in this supposedly enlightened era.

But on this World Bipolar Day, there is hope for the future. Celebrities such as Carrie Fisher and Catherine Zeta-Jones have come forward to discuss their condition in the public eye, which has helped some people with bipolar to feel less ashamed of their illness. It is my hope that the growing awareness will dispel the myths and make people without mental disorders realize that we are not to be feared, so that one day MI will be regarded with the same compassion given to physical illnesses.

Thank you for caring.

There are several wonderful pages on Facebook that deal with bipolar disorder. They offer various information on the mental illness, share inspirational quotes, memes, and personal experiences with the owner’s  illness.

Raising awareness of bipolar disorder and eliminating stigma” is important.  That was why World Bipolar Day  was started.  Please help to raise awareness by sharing these bipolar disorder pages with your FB followers and friends.

Note: If you have a bipolar disorder page and would like for it to be included, send me a message at Bipolar Bandit’s FB page.

There are several wonderful pages on Facebook that deal with bipolar disorder. They offer various information on the mental illness, share inspirational quotes, memes, and personal experiences with the owner’s  illness.

Raising awareness of bipolar disorder and eliminating stigma” is important.  That was why World Bipolar Day was started.  Please help to raise awareness by sharing these bipolar disorder pages with your FB followers and friends.

Note: If you have a bipolar disorder page and would like for it to be included, send me a message at Bipolar Bandit’s FB page.