Our award-winning bpHope Blog is a collection of posts written with heartfelt honesty by a group of bloggers from around the world, with each providing their own unique perspectives on living with bipolar disorder. Our bloggers write on issues that reflect their experiences and knowledge of living with bipolar disorder and address a range of topics, including relationships, treatment, symptoms (mania, depression, anger, hypersexuality, impulsivity, sleep), stigma, parenting, and more. Our diverse and eclectic group of blog/vlog authors offer information, inspiration, practical guidance—and HOPE, no matter what your needs are. Whether you have bipolar disorder or have a loved one who does, the bpHope Blog is a trusted community for you to connect with.
Social media sites and apps can provide necessary connections and offer entertainment; they can also enable isolation and masking stability while denying bipolar depression or mania. Social Media Status: Complicated I have a love/hate relationship with social media. On one hand, I’ve found plenty of old acquaintances and reconnected with them—even met for the first...
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Newness is exciting; boredom feels painful. It took a while for me to realize that boredom is a personal risk factor for depressive episodes. Not everyone understands this. As it turns out, there’s plenty of research regarding how learning new things influences your brain, including creating new connections between your neurons (neuroplasticity). This is, in...
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I recognize the importance of a consistent routine for managing bipolar. I also know that maintaining my stability depends on having free time for spontaneity. The Necessity of Routine We hear it all the time: Routine is so important for people with bipolar! Keep a steady routine to combat your bipolar symptoms! Do things the...
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I worried my bipolar diagnosis would hold me back professionally. In time, I learned that bipolar could propel me to better self-management and career success. Diagnosed & Doubting My Life Dreams When I was diagnosed with bipolar, years ago, I was working full-time and pursuing my graduate degree. It was my last semester of school,...
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Revealing your diagnosis in a relationship can be difficult and feel risky. I prioritize honesty and try to separate reactions from my self-worth. Romance & Revelations Starting a new romantic relationship is often an exciting time. Experiencing new feelings, stretching horizons, and learning about each other is often thrilling, with exciting dates, a longing to...
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Everyone faces challenges in life. And bipolar disorder can certainly add new and unexpected complications. It’s how we face them that matters. Seeking Wisdom in Challenges with Bipolar We are going to face challenging situations, people, and barriers in our lives, but we have control over how we deal with them. We can decide to...
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What does acceptance of a bipolar diagnosis look like? What does it feel like? Turns out, it’s a lot like getting to know a new horse. What Is Bipolar Acceptance? There isn’t a trophy for achieving bipolar acceptance. There isn’t a list of requirements, a deadline, or a competition. But still, many of us see...
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With bipolar, sometimes we need to rewrite the “rules” of life and follow our own timelines instead of others’ newsfeeds and social media stories. Over the years, I’ve learned something very important about living with bipolar disorder: never compare yourself to others. It’s just about the easiest thing in the world to do, especially with...
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If I could “snap out of it,” I would. Here’s why advice like that isn’t helpful—plus 5 strategies that do help me cope with bipolar depression. Unhelpful Advice for Bipolar Depression Have you ever gotten this advice when experiencing bipolar depression? “Think positive.” “It could be worse.” “Snap out of it.” I’ve heard it all,...
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Holidays can be challenging, especially when we feel isolated. To avoid bipolar depression, I’m taking a proactive approach—tackling loneliness directly and finding ways to feel joyful. Feeling Lonely & Isolated During the Holidays The holidays can often be the hardest time of the year for dealing with loneliness and the potential mood shift that can...
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It starts with identifying our needs and communicating them clearly, so we can keep our mood stable and enjoy the festivities. We can create a holiday plan that serves us for years to come, starting now. Let’s focus on what we need and how we want to feel during every holiday season. It’s possible to...
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Navigating the holidays in a healthy way means admitting some of the things I enjoy most about Christmas are actually bad for me. The Christmas Conspiracy Sometimes I feel like Christmas is a conspiracy to test my recovery. The gatherings that interfere with my sleep schedule, the baked goods promising a sugar high (and crash),...
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Years ago, I was hospitalized for bipolar during the holiday season. It was a particularly challenging time that taught me about the power of hope. Hospitalized for the Holiday It was Christmas Day 1981. I was hospitalized as a result of a bipolar episode I’d had earlier in the month. On that particular day, I...
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Entering the holiday season without any expectations—positive or negative—helps me avoid triggers and appreciate moments of kindness and cheer. Expectations & Disappointments This time of the year, what is called the “most wonderful time of the year,” can be filled with a lot of expectations. Expectations that set up you and me for a whole...
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I love giving gifts and celebrating. Mania used to “manage” my wallet and holiday festivities for me. Now, I actively resist the urge to overspend, managing my money, moods, and seasonal stress. Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to shop for gifts for others, buy food for parties—and don’t forget about new outfits...
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My bipolar disorder diagnosis was used against me in my relationship. Here’s how I recognized the manipulation and escaped. Bipolar Diagnosis & Questioning My Perceptions Years ago, I experienced my first major depressive episode, which precipitated my bipolar diagnosis. I was terrified. I had so many questions swirling around in my head: Was I broken?...
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After two years of “too much,” I need some downtime. I am keeping it simple: enjoying blank spaces in my calendar and face time with my family. Craving “White Space” When I really couldn’t go anywhere, being home all the time became exhausting for me. Too much stimulation can drain my energy, but too little...
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Because they associate it with violence, some people fear the psychosis that can accompany bipolar manic episodes. But my experience of psychosis made me a better person. A Changed Perspective on Psychosis Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging and confusing, and some find themselves at the mercy of one particular symptom: psychosis. There is...
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In a world that rewards overdoing it, especially around the holidays, it is easy to be tempted into mania. Here is how I stay stable throughout the season. While we are in the thick of the “holiday season”—which, to me, begins with Halloween in October and doesn’t end until Valentine’s Day in February—I have to...
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Years ago, I learned firsthand that serving others in need can also help alleviate the heaviness of a long episode of bipolar depression. Bipolar Depression on Thanksgiving Years ago, when I was a 20-year-old with a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder, my parents had dragged me—kicking and screaming—from my native land of California to the...
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