Bipolar Disorder Recovery Stories

Bipolar disorder used to be called “manic depression” because diagnosed individuals would exhibit significant swings between mania/euphoria and deep depression. The manic phase of bipolar disorder is often described as driving a sports car at top speed with no brakes. Individuals in the throes of mania can engage in extremely risky, dangerous behavior while feeling bursts of energy and creativity, sometimes accompanied by grandiose and/or delusional beliefs. Mania can feel great, but the inevitable crash can be utterly devastating, sending people into inexorably deep depressive episodes that can result in suicide. In fact, 15 – 20% of individuals with bipolar disorder take their own lives, while 30 – 60% will attempt at some point in their lives.

But bipolar disorder is far from a death sentence; while it is not curable, it is treatable and manageable, as is demonstrated in dozens and dozens of beautifully hopeful personal essays and dozens of passionate and vibrant documentary films here on Recovery Diaries. Bipolar advocate Gabe Howard, who has penned essays, been in one of our films, and has appeared on our podcast, Recovery Diaries in Depth, is just one example of an individual living his best life with bipolar disorder; a tireless advocate and a much-needed voice in the mental health community.

 Here, you will also read essays from a wide swath of human beings who are not necessarily advocates by profession, but who are engaged in the intersection of creativity and mental health: a mental health comic, a folk singer and dancer, a former golf pro, an author and foodie; human beings who are not only managing their bipolar diagnosis, but who are living and thriving– exploring creative parts of their humanity and appreciating the every day– not just putting pills into an organizer and monitoring their mood fluctuations (they’re probably doing that, too). Mental illness is so much more doctors visits, therapy appointments, and mood journals; it’s life, and these human beings are living life. Join them and celebrate them. Read, watch, listen, enjoy.