Years ago if you would have asked me if there was any greater meaning or purpose to my story as I lay in the emergency room, then ICU, after my first suicide attempt, I would have said no. But my story matters. Almost 13 years later, I am reflecting on how different struggles I’ve endured in particular living with bipolar disorder, has shaped my life. No one asks for struggles, for hardships, or suffering, but we all endure them in this life. I think we can create meaning in our lives through our struggles with bipolar disorder. We can find purpose for ourselves and our world around us.
My story matters because it helps inspire others to continue in their stories. Since I started blogging in 2015, I have received emails, comments, and heard from real people that my story touched them in some way. I have also met so many new people through sharing my story who have impacted my life in a positive way and encouraged me to keep writing, fighting, and living. Sometimes you can’t imagine the impact your life can make on other people, and sometimes you’ll never know how many lives you’ve touched. So keep struggling, keep living, keep creating meaning for your life with bipolar.
I wasn’t always in a place to write and share my story. I wasn’t always doing as well as I am now. There were years when I thought mental health recovery was an illusion or a mirage. I’ve been in the hospital more times than I can count, I’ve undergone serious treatments such as many series of ECT, and been on countless different psychiatric medicines. Things have looked bleak. I have been hopeless before. I hit rock bottom, but I didn’t give up. It took time, different treatments, and work, but I found bipolar recovery.
Your story matters. Your story matters even when things look dark, when life is at its worst, and when you don’t care whether your story inspires others, let alone yourself. You matter. Living with bipolar can be manageable. You can live a meaningful life with purpose of your choosing. I am reminded of the words of Viktor Frankl whose book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” I found helpful after I was first diagnosed with bipolar, who said, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” There is hope. There is help. There is a life with bipolar disorder. Your story matters.
Julie A. Fast uses her extensive research and personal experience to offer strategies for managing bipolar disorder. Read more in this Q&A about how her insights can guide confident management and deepen our understanding of this brain-based illness. Julie A. Fast is a recognized authority in the mental health field. She is known for her...
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant bipolar symptoms is a subject of much debate and stigma. While some credit it with giving them back their lives, others struggle with the loss of cherished memories. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), with over eight decades of use in psychiatry, remains a subject of intense debate. Despite advancements and extensive research,...
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As a suicide survivor, I understand the weight of society’s stigma. It’s tough, but finding support, understanding triggers, and holding onto hope can guide us toward healing and growth. Editor’s Note: This content delves into sensitive topics that some readers might find distressing. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call or...
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Whether you live with bipolar or love someone who does, you can find comfort, wisdom, and strategies (maybe even a good laugh!) in these inspirational books. We can lose ourselves in the power of the written word, compelled by the raw emotions, deep insights, and humorous takes offered by others like us — people who...
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You said a mouthful, my friend! I have shared my story a lot over the years, but only in the past several months has it registered to me just how much! My story is my therapy, my gift to others, my purpose for living, and may quite possibly become my livelihold. It has kept me alive when I wanted to die, and it has helped me give others a reason to hold on. It has helped me educate others and reduce stigma. People who hear my story have come to me for guidance because I put them at ease and they knew I cared, understood, and would not pass judgement and I would not tell others their business. I have made people smile through their tears, and have even turned some tears to laughter.
Thank you for sharing your story and for encouraging others to do the same. Keep your light shining!
Thank you so much for your article. You are in good company my friend. Your story inspires us. 🙂
Hey! We’re practically neighbors. I live in Poplar Bluff, about two and a half hours south of STL. It sounds like we have similar mental health backgrounds. I’m currently stable, but medications also often result in a flat affect. I do miss the joy I felt when hypomanic, but can do without the depression, which was by far the symptom that I dealt with the most. Dark, deep, unremitting depression. Sounds like you understand exactly what I mean. I will be launching my blog soon under The View From the Top of the Hill this weekend and the main focus will be mental health topics. Perhaps I can entreat you to be a guest blogger soon? I would be honored
Thank you
I am really encouraged by your story and this article. I’m in the process of getting mine together, if I can ever stop procrastinating. Sometimes you need to hear it from people who understand your struggle. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for 2017!