Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

1 month ago

When the Stigma of Bipolar Comes From Family, Friends, and Soceity Bipolar stigma is painful in any form, but it can feel especially hurtful when it comes from family, friends, or other people you trust. Key Takeaways _______________ Stigma, no matter where it comes from, is insensitive and dehumanizing. But when discrimination comes from those we’re close to — friends, family, co-workers, fellow worshipers, others we’d... The post When the Stigma of Bipolar Comes From Family, Friends, and Soceity appeared first on bpHope.com.

When the Stigma of Bipolar Comes From Family, Friends, and Soceity #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #MentalHealthStigmaofBipolar #faith

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

1 month ago

Paranoia and Bipolar Disorder: Coping With Irrational Thoughts Stop the repetitive mental loops and physical tension of bipolar suspicion before they damage your friendships One of my close friends, David, didn’t show up for my birthday party. All of my other friends showed up, so I assumed David considered other plans more important than seeing me. Though I still had a great time... The post Paranoia and Bipolar Disorder: Coping With Irrational Thoughts appeared first on bpHope.com.

Paranoia and Bipolar Disorder: Coping With Irrational Thoughts #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarDisorderSymptoms

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

1 month ago

How to Nurture and Keep Healthy Friendships Maintaining strong connections while managing bipolar disorder requires honest talk, boundaries, and mutual support. Key Takeaways _______________ If you already have people you care about, you can keep those connections steady and genuine — even when your mood, energy, or routines shift. You don’t have to “perform” friendship perfectly to deserve it. You can strengthen... The post How to Nurture and Keep Healthy Friendships appeared first on bpHope.com.

How to Nurture and Keep Healthy Friendships #BipolarandFriends #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #Friendship

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

2 months ago

Why We Pull Away From Friends and Family When Living With Bipolar Understanding how mood episodes, low energy, and distorted thinking can lead to distancing from loved ones. In the decades I’ve lived with bipolar, and worked with countless others who do, I’ve found that during mood episodes, friends and family are more prone to back away from our lives. Similarly, we may find ourselves separating from... The post Why We Pull Away From Friends and Family When Living With Bipolar appeared first on bpHope.com.

Why We Pull Away From Friends and Family When Living With Bipolar #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #Fall2019

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

2 months ago

Bipolar Disorder and Hyposexuality: Understand Low Sex Drive When bipolar depression or medications lower your libido, these expert-backed strategies can help restore intimacy. Key Takeaways _________________ Hypersexuality during manic or hypomanic episodes can put relationships, health, and safety at risk. Because it can lead to impulsive choices, it tends to get a lot of attention. But there’s a quieter counterpart that can feel... The post Bipolar Disorder and Hyposexuality: Understand Low Sex Drive appeared first on bpHope.com.

Bipolar Disorder and Hyposexuality: Understand Low Sex Drive #BipolarDepressionSymptoms #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

2 months ago

Dating With Bipolar: When and How to Share Your Diagnosis Deciding when to disclose your bipolar diagnosis is personal, but being open can help build a stronger connection. Key Takeaways ___________ Finding a partner who understands and supports your journey is a significant part of living well. Whether you’re just beginning to navigate the dating scene or looking for ways to deepen an existing connection,... The post Dating With Bipolar: When and How to Share Your Diagnosis appeared first on bpHope.com.

Dating With Bipolar: When and How to Share Your Diagnosis #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #DatingandBipolar

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

2 months ago

Bipolar Disorder and Ghosting: Is It Real? A relationship expert explores why manic episodes and a lack of insight can lead to a sudden, unexplained end to a romance. Key Takeaways ______________ It’s a painful and confusing experience: One day, you’re planning a future with someone who feels like your soulmate, and the next, they have vanished without a trace. In the... The post Bipolar Disorder and Ghosting: Is It Real? appeared first on bpHope.com.

Bipolar Disorder and Ghosting: Is It Real? #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #DatingandBipolar

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

3 months ago

Taking Off the Mask: What It Means for Men to Be Emotionally Real From barbershop silence to a bipolar disorder diagnosis, one man’s story shows why vulnerability is not weakness. In the rural town where I grew up in Bertie County, North Carolina, the local barber shop was the one place where a group of men could come together and discuss anything: politics, sports, work, women — real-life... The post Taking Off the Mask: What It Means for Men to Be Emotionally Real appeared first on bpHope.com.

Taking Off the Mask: What It Means for Men to Be Emotionally Real #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #MentalHealthStigmaofBipolar

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

3 months ago

Bipolar and Relationships: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  A split can trigger manic or depressive episodes. Here is how to maintain stability, avoid dangerous rebounds, and prioritize self-care when a relationship ends. Whether you have bipolar disorder or your partner does, the end of a relationship often ushers in dark feelings like abandonment, guilt, and rejection. Even if the relationship was toxic and... The post Bipolar and Relationships: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  appeared first on bpHope.com.

Bipolar and Relationships: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarHusbandWifeParent #dating

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

4 months ago

I Wasn’t Just Partying — I Was Sabotaging My Bipolar I mistook mania for a good time. Addressing the link between my drinking and my disorder was the only way to save my relationships. Drinking has been a personal struggle in my life at times, especially during my mid-twenties. Over the years, I have learned about the importance of controlling my alcohol intake and recognizing... The post I Wasn’t Just Partying — I Was Sabotaging My Bipolar appeared first on bpHope.com.

I Wasn’t Just Partying — I Was Sabotaging My Bipolar #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarMania

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

4 months ago

What I Wish Family and Friends Knew About Bipolar My depression is dark and my mania is wild, but I am not my illness. Here is what living with bipolar really feels like. I can’t name a single person with bipolar disorder who doesn’t have that one friend or family member who just doesn’t get it. They either have no idea about mental illnesses... The post What I Wish Family and Friends Knew About Bipolar appeared first on bpHope.com.

What I Wish Family and Friends Knew About Bipolar #BipolarandFriends #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

5 months ago

You’ve Been Lied to About Bipolar Disorder — Here’s the Truth False beliefs about bipolar can make hope feel out of reach. Learning what’s real helps you move toward understanding and progress. Do you know that there are many myths and misconceptions that surround bipolar disorder? Such false notions must be corrected. Until people learn the truth about bipolar, they will continue to deny that the... The post You’ve Been Lied to About Bipolar Disorder — Here’s the Truth appeared first on bpHope.com.

You’ve Been Lied to About Bipolar Disorder — Here’s the Truth #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarTreatment

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

5 months ago

Feeling Drained? You Might Need a Digital Detox Too much screen time can heighten stress, disrupt sleep, and affect bipolar symptoms. Here’s how to unplug and reset. Are we too attached to our digital devices? That question has been debated for nearly as long as the iPhone has been around, giving rise to the first National Day of Unplugging in 2010. (The next... The post Feeling Drained? You Might Need a Digital Detox appeared first on bpHope.com.

Feeling Drained? You Might Need a Digital Detox #BipolarandStress #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #Winter2021

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

5 months ago

When Bipolar Disorder Drove My Friends Away After losing nearly all my friends, I discovered how unmanaged bipolar symptoms were sabotaging my relationships — and how I learned to rebuild them. A friend once asked me, “Julie, why don’t you write a book about bipolar disorder and relationships?” “I already did that with my first book for couples where one person has... The post When Bipolar Disorder Drove My Friends Away appeared first on bpHope.com.

When Bipolar Disorder Drove My Friends Away #BipolarandFriends #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

6 months ago

How Simple Human Connection Helped My Anxiety and Depression One brief chat with neighbors showed how reaching out can ease isolation and bring moments of hope with bipolar depression. If human exchange were currency, it would be among the most devalued coins on earth. Our world can feel chaotic. Acts of violence and mistrust seem ever-present. I already struggle to reach out because of... The post How Simple Human Connection Helped My Anxiety and Depression appeared first on bpHope.com.

How Simple Human Connection Helped My Anxiety and Depression #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

6 months ago

Bipolar and Social Anxiety: Does Everybody Hate Me? When I feel ignored, my mind races to the worst. These are my go-to ways to break that bipolar thought spiral. I have to laugh at the dramatic title that came to my mind as I contemplated what to write about for this post. As someone with bipolar disorder, it’s something my depressed mind would... The post Bipolar and Social Anxiety: Does Everybody Hate Me? appeared first on bpHope.com.

Bipolar and Social Anxiety: Does Everybody Hate Me? #BipolarandAnxiety #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

7 months ago

Rebuilding Trust and Finding Self-Forgiveness After a Mood Episode Healing after a bipolar episode involves more than apologies; it means showing change through daily choices, supporting loved ones, and extending patience to yourself. Grant “Skip” T. remembers his hand trembling the day he sat down to write a long-overdue letter to his son. It was his son’s 39th birthday. And Skip, diagnosed with bipolar... The post Rebuilding Trust and Finding Self-Forgiveness After a Mood Episode appeared first on bpHope.com.

Rebuilding Trust and Finding Self-Forgiveness After a Mood Episode #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #forgiveness #healing

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

7 months ago

Healing Your Relationships After Bipolar Mania After a manic episode, it may seem impossible to repair the damage. But with honesty and effort, rebuilding is within reach. Many of us with bipolar disorder make terrible decisions when we’re ill, and rebuilding our lives afterward is naturally overwhelming — especially after a massive episode, when extreme mania and psychosis might have put... The post Healing Your Relationships After Bipolar Mania appeared first on bpHope.com.

Healing Your Relationships After Bipolar Mania #BipolarandFriends #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #depression

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

7 months ago

Bipolar and Love: Why Making Amends Matters Rebuilding after bipolar symptoms test a marriage can seem overwhelming, yet small steps toward amends can make lasting change. Extensive research has established the importance of social connections to mental and emotional well-being. Yet no matter how strong our relationships or support networks, bipolar symptoms — anger and irritability, promiscuity, impulsivity, and grandiose thinking, among... The post Bipolar and Love: Why Making Amends Matters appeared first on bpHope.com.

Bipolar and Love: Why Making Amends Matters #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarHusbandWifeParent

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

7 months ago

How to Handle Disrespect Without Taking It Personally Bipolar can make disrespect feel overwhelming. Reframing others’ behavior keeps the focus on their actions — not your worth. Did you know that no one can disrespect you? That’s right! No one can disrespect us. When we feel disrespected, we’re taking someone’s words or actions personally, and we choose to feel disrespected. We assign to... The post How to Handle Disrespect Without Taking It Personally appeared first on bpHope.com.

How to Handle Disrespect Without Taking It Personally #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarTreatmentandMindfulness

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

7 months ago

How to Protect Your Relationships During Mood Episodes Bipolar disorder can strain bonds with partners, family, and friends — but self-awareness, boundaries, and empathy can help keep them strong. All relationships ebb and flow. It comes with the territory because, well, we’re human. But when bipolar disorder is part of the equation, the dynamics of relationships – with intimate partners, family members, and... The post How to Protect Your Relationships During Mood Episodes appeared first on bpHope.com.

How to Protect Your Relationships During Mood Episodes #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #Hope #dating

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

8 months ago

How to Explain Your Bipolar to Friends and Family Bipolar disorder can be hard to understand. Clear, compassionate explanations can help loved ones provide better support. It would be easier for people to understand bipolar disorder if our brains would bulge out of the sides of our heads when we become sick. Then someone could see the bulge and say, “Oh, Julie must be... The post How to Explain Your Bipolar to Friends and Family appeared first on bpHope.com.

How to Explain Your Bipolar to Friends and Family #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #friends #Friendship

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

9 months ago

‘Coming Out’ About Bipolar Disorder: What to Expect and How to Prepare Disclosing a bipolar diagnosis isn’t easy — but it can lead to stronger relationships, self-acceptance, and surprising support. When it comes to sharing your bipolar disorder diagnosis, “coming out” is hard to do — yet it may be the best thing for you. I stayed “closeted” about my mental health condition for more than 10... The post ‘Coming Out’ About Bipolar Disorder: What to Expect and How to Prepare appeared first on bpHope.com.

‘Coming Out’ About Bipolar Disorder: What to Expect and How to Prepare #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

10 months ago

Why I Give My Bipolar Moods Their Own Names Giving names to my moods helps me make sense of bipolar disorder — and reminds me I’m more than my diagnosis. To handle my shifting moods — from deep depression to challenging mania — I decided to give them names.  Naming my moods helps me recognize what’s happening and reminds me that I’m more than... The post Why I Give My Bipolar Moods Their Own Names appeared first on bpHope.com.

Why I Give My Bipolar Moods Their Own Names #BipolarDepressionSymptoms #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

10 months ago

Why Emotions Can Feel More Intense With Bipolar Bipolar disorder makes us feel things in extremes — and often causes us to be labeled as ‘too intense’ or ‘too sensitive.’ At 18 years old I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder and a few months later, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was shattering. I had just come to terms with my mental... The post Why Emotions Can Feel More Intense With Bipolar appeared first on bpHope.com.

Why Emotions Can Feel More Intense With Bipolar #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

11 months ago

Our Marriage, My Bipolar Diagnosis — and the Choices That Keep Us Strong When you live with bipolar disorder, love alone isn’t always enough — but love paired with ownership and action can carry you far. My husband, Frank, lives for adventure. When he’s driving our giant 4×4 hunting rig — a lifted Ford Excursion on nearly four-foot tall tires — he doesn’t hesitate to steer us sideways... The post Our Marriage, My Bipolar Diagnosis — and the Choices That Keep Us Strong appeared first on bpHope.com.

Our Marriage, My Bipolar Diagnosis — and the Choices That Keep Us Strong #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

11 months ago

How to Repair Relationships Affected by Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder can complicate even the strongest bonds, but with understanding, treatment, and commitment, rebuilding trust and connection is possible. If only life came with a reset button. One push and voilà: Relationships unraveled by the behaviors of bipolar disorder would knit themselves back together. Of course, it’s not that easy to mend what’s broken... The post How to Repair Relationships Affected by Bipolar Disorder appeared first on bpHope.com.

How to Repair Relationships Affected by Bipolar Disorder #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #communication #forgiveness

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

11 months ago

The Reality of Major Life Changes When Living With Bipolar Disorder Big transitions don’t just test your patience — they can test your relationship, too. Here’s how we weathered the storm. Our springtime return to our beloved Colorado after 17 years happened quickly, though we had been planning it in our hearts for some time. It all came down to my husband landing a solid job... The post The Reality of Major Life Changes When Living With Bipolar Disorder appeared first on bpHope.com.

The Reality of Major Life Changes When Living With Bipolar Disorder #BipolarDisorderandRelationships #BipolarHusbandWifeParent #anger

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

1 year ago

Bipolar and Stigma: ‘But You Look So Normal’ People with bipolar can look, sound, and seem just as “normal” as other people do. What is “normal,” anyway? And who decides? I’m used to people telling me I don’t look like who I am. “You don’t look Muslim.” “You don’t look American.” “You don’t look…

Bipolar and Stigma: ‘But You Look So Normal’ #BipolarandFriends #BipolarDisorderandRelationships

Bipolar Awareness ~ Stop the Stigma

@stopthestigma.bsky.social

1 year ago

When and How to Share Your Bipolar Diagnosis in a New Relationship Revealing your bipolar diagnosis to a romantic partner is a deeply personal decision. Here’s how to approach the conversation with care and confidence. Starting a new romantic relationship is often an exciting time — experiencing new feelings, broadening…

When and How to Share Your Bipolar Diagnosis in a New Relationship #BipolarDisorderandRelationships