Welcome to Our Bipolar!
This blog was borne from seven Facebook posts that I shared on my 40th birthday in 2019. The first post announced that I have bipolar I, after more than 20 years of hiding my diagnosis (aside from to family and close friends). It was a pivotal moment in my life. I finally felt free to be myself, and surprisingly enough at least for me, I felt proud to be me. I was and still am proud to be living with bipolar I and working hard every day to stay healthy. The biggest shock after sharing those posts was that my health improved dramatically immediately thereafter. Since sharing those Facebook posts one year ago, I haven’t had any bipolar symptoms—no mania or depression whatsoever. Talk about the power of feeling comfortable in your own skin! Prior to that, I would have mild manic symptoms every 2 or 3 months that would take several weeks to either resolve or turn into mild depression. To be free of that roller coaster and the fear of when the ride would begin is such a relief. I hope my stability lasts forever, but I am a realist. However, I will enjoy this time while it lasts and be grateful in the meantime.
After feeling so good this past year, I wanted to do more. I hope that Our Bipolar will benefit my own health as well as help the bipolar and mental health communities. I believe that reading about the experiences of others can benefit our own lives. Likewise, I want to share my life with those who do not live with any mental health issues so that they can learn about life with mental illness. This blog is as much for those without any mental health problems as it is for those with bipolar or another mental illness. I would like to host guest bloggers from a variety of backgrounds to add perspective and share their diverse experiences. My wish is that Our Bipolar becomes a community for sharing and learning about people with mental illnesses like bipolar disorder.
Thank you for being here! I can’t wait to see what Our Bipolar will become with your support.
Jess Kanotz