Unexpected Stigma
I have been very lucky with the care I’ve received from medical professionals in the past few years since my diagnosis of bipolar and psychosis. The two psychiatrists who’ve been charged with my care have… View Full Post
When You’re High Functioning With Mental Illness…
Being publicly high functioning despite a severe mental illness means people getting annoyed with you when you don’t deliver on promises or can’t give them emotional support. They don’t realise all your effort is already… View Full Post
Impatience And Bipolar
Impatience, real impatience: Jumping up and down Stamping my feet shouting, “I need to know NOW” There’s something about having bipolar that makes me impatient. When I’m depressed or manic, I need things to happen… View Full Post
Ten Years Of Mental Illness
Ten years ago I was a whirlwind of extreme moods, constantly battling against each other. I would suffer from severe depression, which decimated my sense of self worth. I was constantly signed off ill from… View Full Post
Those of us with severe mental illness are here and should be visible in the mental health conversation
Self care, wellbeing, mindfulness, depression, anxiety. All words the general public are accustomed to hearing. They are part of the mental health conversation and have become integral to increasing understanding of mental illness. What about psychosis,… View Full Post
Falling Through The Gap
I’ve lived with mental illness for more than half my life. Even so, it’s only been in the past few years where I’ve felt able to talk openly about bipolar, psychosis and bulimia. It’s everyones… View Full Post
Is Mental Illness Your BFF?
Mental illness can overwhelm us at times. It can dictate our decisions, affect our relationships and stop us from doing the things we enjoy. Sometimes mental illness becomes more than just an illness, it becomes… View Full Post
A Life Lived Vividly Series: ‘I Thought The Voices Were Normal’ Realising I Had Psychosis
I suffer from bipolar disorder, well known for it’s symptoms of mania and depression. What many people don’t realise is that some sufferers also experience psychosis. These could include delusions, auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations.… View Full Post
What Does ‘Recovery’ Mean?
The word recovery means very different things to different people. The word is problematic and can ultimately be damaging. When people talk about recovery it marginalises those that can’t. Some people use the word to… View Full Post
What Nobody Tells You About Mania
As I’ve said before there is more to mania than just feeling good. It’s a complicated symptom of bipolar. When someone asks me “What’s it like to be manic?” I have to really think about it.… View Full Post
