Our Bipolar

12/07/2025

I had absolutely no prior awareness of bipolar disorder when I was diagnosed at 19.

Most people who have bipolar know a family member who has it. Their dad, an aunt, a grandma, etc.

Not me. I didn’t even really know what bipolar was.

I was first misdiagnosed with depression. That wasn’t a shock. It sucked to feel so low, but it was easy to wrap my head around.

The bipolar diagnosis rocked my world. It was a trauma in itself that took years to get over.

Did you have prior awareness of bipolar?

-Jess

11/07/2025

Bipolar disorder is delicate. Not delicate like a flower.🌷 Delicate like a bomb. 💣

That was the description given by psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Washington on a recent episode of the Inside Bipolar podcast, which is also hosted by Gabe Howard:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0BV9bXgHlRUfmbEy5se6aP?si=2175fb0c83f9402b

I thought it was the perfect analogy.

In this video, I talk about how that bipolar bomb can blow up if you’re not careful…and sometimes even if you are careful. 😩

I describe how bipolar episodes have exploded in my life, the consequences, and how I try to keep that bomb from detonating again.

Go watch and let’s talk in the comments. 🤍

✨New videos are posted on Fridays at noon EST✨

https://youtube.com/

-Jess

Bipolar disorder is delicate. Not delicate like a flower. Delicate like a BOMB. 💣That was the description of bipolar disorder given by psychiatrist Dr. Nico...

10/07/2025

“So you haven’t been sleeping well. Big whoop.”

For me and those who depend on me, it IS a big whoop! Where did the phrase “big whoop” even come from?? 🤔 I digress.

For someone who has bipolar disorder 🙋🏻‍♀️, less sleep will eventually lead to hypomania or mania.

These symptoms steal one’s ability to concentrate and get stuff done. So working, cooking, cleaning, driving, etc are no longer possible or even safe, in some cases.

With that said, my lil sleep update is in the pictures. 🫶🏼

My sleep has improved. I expected to be back to normal after upping my Seroquel, but this too shall pass.

How is your sleep? Bipolar or not, sleep is so important. 💤

-Jess

08/07/2025

I haven’t been sleeping well. I’m trying not to make a big deal out of it.

Nothing to see here, bipolar. Keep your symptoms away, bipolar.

Then tonight at dinner, Bryan said he would get Pearson ready and take her to camp tomorrow so I can sleep in. ❤️

I wouldn’t have asked. Who in your life steps in to offer support?

-Jess

04/07/2025

NEW YT VIDEO: Bipolar and Masking

So many of us with bipolar disorder are experts at masking—pretending we’re fine when we’re actually having symptoms, or even pretending that we don’t have bipolar at all.

Whether it’s at work, with friends, around family, or even at the grocery store, we hide our symptoms for all sorts of reasons.

I mask all. the. time. I hate it, but I also find it extremely helpful if I’m able to. It’s complicated. 😬

Go watch and let me know your experience with masking.

✨New videos are posted on Fridays at noon EST✨

https://youtube.com/

-Jess

So many of us with bipolar disorder are experts at masking—pretending we're fine when we’re actually having symptoms or even pretending that we don’t have bi...

29/06/2025

I need ample alone time to recharge and honestly in order to not bite anyone’s head off or go into hypomania (my go-to).

Working from home gives me tons of alone time, except in the summer. Suddenly my teacher husband Bryan and daughter Pearson are HERE. ALL. THE. TIME.

I haven’t quite adjusted even though it’s been a month.

Is alone time necessary for your well-being, whether you have bipolar or not? Do you get enough?

-Jess

26/06/2025

I still get nervous about psychiatrist appts.

Not because of my doctor—he’s great.

Sometimes rehashing everything that’s happened since my last appt is tough.

I didn’t even have any bipolar symptoms, just some particularly stressful life events earlier this month.

Do you get anxious before seeing your psychiatrist or therapist?

-Jess

25/06/2025

Being stable is a good thing, but sometimes I feel like I should just shut up about it.

Most posts show the toughest aspects of bipolar: mania, depression, psychosis, and the negative effects these symptoms have on their lives. For good reason. Posting can garner so much support from people who truly get it.

But there is also euthymia. Euthymia means stability or the absence of symptoms.

This is what we work towards, hope for, even pray for. It happens more for some of us than others, unfortunately.

Stability needs a place on social media. It’s not going to get as many views or clicks. It might even be frustrating to someone who has frequent symptoms, but it’s part of the bipolar experience.

-Jess

23/06/2025

My last full-blown mania was in 2007. 18 years ago.

Lithium ended mania for me. Now I only deal with its lesser version, hypomania. Only.

Hypomania is still destructive, but it doesn’t utterly destroy your life like mania can.

I don’t miss it, but I understand why some people do. It’s easy to miss what you’re used to or what feels like your personality. It’s easy to miss the “fun” parts and forget the awful parts. Like anything else in life.

-Jess

20/06/2025

Unpopular opinion: Therapy and bipolar disorder don’t always mix. 😳

In this video, I share my honest experience with therapy while living with bipolar disorder.

File this under: Just another thing I wish someone had told me sooner about bipolar.

What has been YOUR experience with therapy and bipolar disorder? Drop a comment below!

✨New videos are posted on Fridays at noon EST✨

https://youtube.com/

-Jess

Unpopular opinion: therapy and bipolar disorder don't always mix. In this video, I share my honest experience with therapy while living with bipolar disorder...