Blogging can affect both personal and social change. I started blogging because the thoughts and words in my mind simply had to get out. I hope this blog offers support, educates, and fights stigma.
Though I am a minivan-driving wife and mother, unlike most of my suburban neighbors, I live with bipolar disorder. My Story, My Path to Age Thirty, Psychotic Break at Thirty, Thirty to Motherhood, Mystic or Mentally Ill?, and Mystic Psychosis recount my struggle with mental illness, the two decades it took to get a proper diagnosis, and how my journey has ultimately given me a sense of purpose – and at times, a sense of religious calling.
As a perpetual and proud geek, I always liked going to school. My brown-nosing and hard work got me a BA in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley, an MA in Psychology from New College of California (never heard of New College? well, it no longer exists and was never as prestigious as Berkeley), and twice I’ve attended Fuller Theological Seminary and twice I quit.
Though I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I haven’t practiced in over 20 years. My varied career path has included working as a legal assistant, psychotherapist, and commercial real estate professional. Obviously, I haven’t stuck to one thing for very long. In fact, if you take a look at my LinkedIn profile, you’ll see that I was a job-hopper, shooting high, rapidly rising, then crashing and burning, over and over – fairly typical of someone with bipolar disorder type II.
My Battle with Mental Illness:
- My Story
- My Path to Age Thirty
- Psychotic Break at Thirty
- Thirty to Motherhood
- Mystic or Mentally Ill?
- Mystic Psychosis
I’m All Over Social Media:
If you take a look at my social media presences, you might think that either I’m really committed to making a brand out of my name, or I am a narcissist. Probably both.
[…] On a more positive note, in January and February and again next week, I’ve been a NAMI Provider Educator for the staff at the hospital where I received both inpatient and partial day treatment twelve years ago. I enjoy educating their staff on what it is like to live with mental illness and to be in mental health recovery. Wish me well next week. We’re increasing the time that we devote to our personal trauma stories, so I must rewrite mine. I may edit my In Our Own Voice presentation for content, or I could take a look at what I have shared here. […]
[…] I’ve been blogging about caregiving and about exhaustion more than about living with bipolar disorder. That said, obviously coping with major life events, such as taking on the role of caregiver of two […]
You aren’t narcissistic or trying to sell yourself-you just need to reach out in as many directions as possible for hands to touch, hmm? It can not be easy to be a brain dealing with an illness running around in it. I am glad you have a nice thick list of support, no shouldn’t be a limit if you reeeaaallly need it!
I use my social presences for mental health advocacy.
Exactly! In Greek mythology Narcissus saw his reflection in a pool of water and feel in love with it, starved to death because he wouldn’t leave to eat, and refused advances and people to admire himself. Finally he was turned into a flower. You are reaching out for help when you need it and sharing with others your experience. Kudos!
Love the beautiful flowering bulbs that Narcissus became.
I’ve never seen one, but I’m quite the Google nerd (just can’t focus, with so many interesting and informative subjects to catch my-Goodness, have you ever seen a crocus?) lol Sorry if it wasn’t funny, the short attention span joke
Love crocuses, too. They do not grow here, though. I live in a warm climate. They like cold winters.
Oh, I am seeing them, they are gorgeous! They help transform all this dreary mud into gorgeous scenery! The weather is so up and down my little ones and I are wearing turtlenecks and thong sandals, lol
Love the image of turtlenecks and flip flops.
A hot mess, isn’t it? But it’s an assorted medley of factors from whether our feet get hot or our arms, what shoes we can find easily that don’t look utterly ridiculous, what’s clean and matches and suits the occasion, etc.