bipolar disorder

May 2016 7

Being Bipolar and Suffering from Paranoia

2016 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

I’m bipolar and I suffer from paranoia. They should be synonyms. It almost seems as if, if you’re bipolar, you’re automatically going to suffer from paranoia.
I know from experience; my level of paranoia runs the gamut. I have had episodes where I have thought that people were being sent to my house, that my house was bugged, that people or the feds were watching me, or that I was being followed. I got to the point where I wouldn’t drive.

Mar 2016 12

Touched with Fire: Movie Review

2016 Articles, Christine Autrand Mitchell

by Christine F. Anderson

Touched with Fire: Not your conventional love story.
Carla (Katie Holmes) is a bipolar poet who struggles to remember what she was like before she got sick. Marco (Luke Kirby) is also a bipolar poet, off his meds, who walks around New York City obsessively drawing chalk images of the moon as he talks endlessly about the Apocalypse. When the two find themselves checked into the same mental institution, the stars align and a romance is formed, the attraction being the similarities of their respective psychoses.

Feb 2016 13

Have You Experienced Bipolar Terrors?

2016 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

If you are bipolar, you are no stranger to terrors, the most common of which are night terrors. Usually within your first hour of sleep, you’re awakened by a very vivid very real nightmare: a night terror. You may say, “Well, kids have nightmares, adults have nightmares. They’re just nightmares.” However, a terror is usually reminiscent of something that has actually happened to you, so it may be a recurrent memory.

Dec 2015 12

Bipolar and Grandiosity

2015 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

We hear the term thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean to be “grandiose?”
Well, some people think that they are better than other people; some people think they cannot be understood by anyone else unless it’s someone very special who understands them. Some people feel that they have special capabilities, at times even entering the delusional—they think that they are the only person who can solve all of the world’s problems.

Oct 2015 10

Fear and Bipolar Disorder

2015 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

I went to the psychiatrist this week and we discussed fear: fear as it pertains to causing paranoia and anxiety in bipolar disorder.
There are different types of fear. There are everyday-life apprehensions; there’s the fear of making a mistake, of upsetting someone, of not trusting your appearance.

Sep 2015 12

Beautiful Bipolar Bisexual By Maricela Estrada

2015 Articles, Books & Tales, Christine F. Anderson, Mental Health

by Christine F. Anderson

Told in conversational style, Maricela Estrada shares with us in Beautiful Bipolar Bisexual, a life filled with questions. She is a very brave, strong woman who has not only battled mental illness but also being bisexual, and fighting two stigmas makes for a tumultuous tale.

Aug 2015 8

Bipolar Disorder and Alienation

2015 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

Why is it that bipolar individuals seem to alienate nearly everyone who cares for them?
I’m going to tell you why. Bipolar people tend to be known for a few things. We are artists when it comes to lying, we are suspicious (or most commonly referred to as paranoid, because we think that everyone lies to us the same way we lie to them), and we are moody. So it’s not so much that we are in a good mood or a bad mood; it’s more like a manic mood versus a depressed mood. That makes each person wonder on a day-to-day basis, just how you are going to be—and how they’re going to connect with whatever person they’re getting today.

Jul 2015 13

Accepting Your Bipolar Diagnosis

2015 Articles, Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

If you are reading this, you’re either here because you are Bipolar or you love someone who is Bipolar. I’m not going to bore you with the details on what Bipolar Disorder is or the statistics. If you’ve come this far and you’re reading this, you probably already know what it is. All be it, you may not like it. That’s why we’re here…acceptance.

May 2015 23

Mental Health Awareness Month

Christine F. Anderson

by Christine F. Anderson

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with mental illness. Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May; it reaches millions of Americans through the media, local events, and screenings. It gives Americans an opportunity to replace stigma with hope by bringing much-needed understanding and education to others.

Apr 2015 18

Seven Helpful Tips for Managing Bipolar Disorder

2015 Articles, Mental Health

by Kristeen Cherney

Bipolar disorder is one of the most challenging mental health issues to treat due to the combination of ups (mania) and downs (depression). While long-term treatment can be tough, it is certainly not impossible. Work with your doctor for a comprehensive treatment plan and learn these seven best tips for managing your condition.