Managing Anger With Bipolar DisorderBipolar disorder can look different for everyone. Every person may have different symptoms. Anger is not typically considered an official symptom of bipolar disorder. But, for many, anger is often...Reactions0reactions
Dating and Talking About My Mental HealthTalking about my mental health when dating is tricky because I have bipolar disorder (not to mention generalized anxiety disorder). Do I mention mental health on the first date? How...Reactions0reactions
Mood Diary for Bipolar DisorderWhile bipolar disorder is partly caused by genetics, external events can also affect your mood. Money or relationship problems, work stress, or the death of a loved one can impact...Reactions0reactions
Bipolar Disorder and the Mid-Life CrisisI have been having conversations with friends recently about the so-called dreaded mid-life crisis. Through various conversations with close friends, we discuss whether we are having a mid-life crisis and...Reactions0reactions
Genetic Testing for Bipolar MedicineBipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes dramatic swings in a person's mood. This is different from the minor mood swings that most people have. Bipolar disorder affects...Reactions0reactions
Marriage and Supporting Your Partner With BipolarAll couples have challenges. But balancing a marriage while dealing with bipolar disorder can present unique problems. Luckily, there are some practical ways to navigate and overcome these issues. Here...Reactions0reactions
Treating and Managing Tardive DyskinesiaTardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder caused by certain medicines. People with TD have involuntary facial movements, or tics. "Tardive" means delayed, and "dyskinesia" means involuntary muscle movements. There...Reactions0reactions
The 2024 Social Health Awards ProgramEditorial Note: Nominations for 2024 are now closed. We are very excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Social Health Awards program! The Social Health Awards is an awards...Reactions0reactions
Do I Need Help? What I Wish My Supports Would Say (And What I Wish They Wouldn't)When I need help, there are things I hope my supports will do and things I hope they won't. But it's hard for supportive people to know what those things...Reactions0reactions
Avoiding a Tragedy in Love With Bipolar DisorderAs someone with bipolar disorder, heavy on the depression end, there are few things I've thought about more than love and happiness. I'm far from the only one. Everyone does...Reactions0reactions
How to Foster a Positive and Effective Doctor-Patient RelationshipThe doctor-patient relationship is such a critical one. I view it as a partnership that forms so you have someone on your side against the bipolar disorder. If you don't...Reactions0reactions
Where ADHD and Bipolar May OverlapAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder are two different mental health conditions, but they can sometimes share similar symptoms and characteristics. The similarities can make it difficult to tell the...Reactions0reactions
Hire Me! Why Employers Shouldn't Overlook Me Because of BipolarAs a person with bipolar disorder, it should come as no surprise that I feel employers shouldn't be overlooking those of us with the illness. In fact, I feel employers...Reactions0reactions
All Things TherapyFor most of us with bipolar disorder, medication plays a critical role in managing our symptoms. However, therapy is also a vital component in the effective treatment of the condition...Reactions0reactions
Should You Be Open About Living With Bipolar Disorder?About 12 years ago I decided to live openly with my mental disorders – high-functioning autism (HFA) and bipolar disorder. It was the right choice for me despite the difficulties...Reactions0reactions
Parents – Tell Your Kids About Your Mental IllnessMany mental illnesses tend to run in families. It's not always the same mental illness in every generation, but mental illnesses tend to clump. Despite this, people tend not to...Reactions0reactions
Special Considerations for Older People With Bipolar DisorderExperts are paying more attention to bipolar disorder in older people. People with bipolar disorder who are over 40 or 50 years of age have not always been the focus...Reactions0reactions
Grieving a DiagnosisWhen I first received a bipolar I diagnosis, I felt a wide range of emotions. My feelings were aligned with the stages of grief. Instead of grieving a loved one...Reactions0reactions
Sleep and Bipolar DisorderBipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition. It causes extreme changes in mood. There are episodes of emotional highs, called mania, and emotional lows, called depression. Bipolar disorder can...Reactions0reactions
Finding the Right Psychiatrist Is Not Always EasyI have been seeing psychiatrists for 25 years, and in that time, I've had various experiences with them. Sometimes, I've found psychiatrists to be the worst influence in my life...Reactions0reactions