Living INXS

I’ve lost count of how many medication cocktails I’ve tried. Lithium has always been the foundation, but in the beginning, it was antidepressants combined with benzodiazepines. Now, it’s mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. They say these help make the episodes less…

Managing frustration and controlling anger is one of the biggest challenges when living with bipolar disorder. In moments of loss of control, emotions take over everything, and even though you know it’s not ideal, it’s hard to prevent that anger…

I’ve been trapped in a depression for four months that has drained me of every last bit of energy. But little by little, I’m starting to regain control. I can feel my heart beating again, the blood running through my…

I’ve found a way to accept myself and leave behind the madness that emerges during my euphoric moments: moving to a new city, even a new country, every once in a while. I’ve lived in six different countries, and every…

Paranoia isn’t just distrust. It’s living in a constant state of alert. Every word, every gesture, every glance is overanalyzed. What seems like a simple conversation to others feels like a setup to you. There’s no proof, but the sense…

It’s incredible how hard it is to live with myself. When you’re bipolar, you’re not just one person, you’re three. In moments of stability, you have to deal with what you did during depression and mania. It’s not just about…

I learned to hide it. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t understand what. I was taught that problems are kept to yourself, that you don’t share them. So I did what I knew best, stay quiet, pretend, disappear…