Mark, you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! there is help available to you & i hope you will seek it out. With the right medication and counseling to teach you coping strategies you will succeed at building a good life. Bipolar is a treatable physiological illness. Please keep fighting and stay positive but most importantly get support. A good psychiatrist can change your life…if you don’t have one now…start looking. You can manage your illness…I watch my son do it every day!
Making this video is so brave of you….stay strong and keep the faith!
Mark, What a powerful story you’ve told that will help many others. The things you have overcome is a testimony of the inner strength that still resides in you. Mental illness has not taken that strength away from you. Keep up the good fight.
Thank God for you & your story! we have something in common…I was also diagnosed bipolar. I’ve seen many Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, therapists. I’ve received many different diagnosis; making things more challenging when your trying to seek help/be proactive. I keep getting mixed messages.’your fine nothings wrong with you, it’s all in your head’ you nailed it! Loved your poem! My mother would like me to take a temporary leave of absence from work. Recent Dr visit & mania on overdrive ugh…sleeping has been challenging this last week. Doc said I am burning the candle at both ends. I struggle with medication. I have tried the synthetic drugs (medication ) & end up being allergic. This last week I was taken to emergency room. Police officer went looking for me on nearby bike path. I thought I could use some fresh air so I went for a walk. Talk about feeling like a looney toons 🙁 as you mentioned. ..sometimes all I need is a hug, reassurance. I mentioned to the Doctor regarding the bipolar disorder, the paperwork that I received said generalized anxiety. Do I just add that to the list? Are they ignoring the fact that I was diagnosed bipolar & they don’t address the fact that this is mania? I’m not a doctor. I look to them for professional advise…I’m so sick of reaching out for help & getting shunned 🙁 I know I need help. It just sucks because I feel like either they don’t believe me /was I misdiagnosed? I don’t think people/medical professionals believe me. Am I putting up that good a front? Like you said, I didn’t want anyone to know my deep dark secret. It’s none of anybody biz but God & me. I know it’s not ok to suffer in silence. Sometimes like you said, I just want to be alone so nobody sees me going thru it. I have an incredible man in my life. Loving, supportive. I just hope n pray that God blesses you & me with people that are going to lift us up not put us down or kick us while we’re down.May god bless us all real good ♡ God bless Mark! Thank you again for sharing, ‘sharing is caring’ 🙂 “nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible! “
Mark!! I am just in awe of you and want to thank you for being so brave and sharing your story!! I am. A mother of 3 wonderful children, 2 of which have bipolar disorder. I would be lying if I said it’s been easy. It hasn’t but they are both on the road to recovery and living with their illness. This journey has made me a better mother, a better human being! I tell them both all the time that their illness doesn’t define who they are as human beings. That it is just something they have. I am so proud of where they have come so far and am waiting to see where their life takes them. They see this world a little differently than I do and have brought and continue to bring such joy in my life. Thank you for sharing your story!! It is my mission as a mother, nurse and human to end the stigma of mental illness once and for all. God bless you! ❤️
Thank you for sharing that Video Mark. We are pretty a like. I was diagnosed bipolar 12 years ago. I’ve been in the hospital 3 times because of this illness I’ve been living with. It is hard to live with bipolar, ADHD, and high blood pressure. I’m grateful for your story. Poetry is something I like to do also. I have had to deal with being stigmatized by people in my family, church, and past jobs. I know the feeling of isolation and the fear of abandonment. It is almost unbearable and I wouldn’t wish the pain I’ve felt on anyone. You’re right. Sometimes all we need is a check up phone call, a hug, or the company of a caring and understanding person. I’m grateful for your video. You are very courageous. I’ve been wanting to make a video myself but I’m still nervous or wimpy about it. A little scared I guess. The stigma has hurt me a lot of times over the years. I just lost my job a couple weeks ago so I feel I’m not a shining example to end the stigma. But know you’re not alone. I’m grateful to know I’m not alone. May you be safe, at ease, stronger feeling, and may you be happy. Thanks again for your video. Peace, friend.
Oh sweet Mark. I have been struggling with this disease since my early teens. I am now 56. Three people in my immediate family shot themselves in the head. My dear brother did, just last april. I have tried to kill myself 3 times and my family wanted me committed. WTH. I was a bother to them, my constant disconnect from people, my anger and my weird rants. I started to write poetry in 1988 and have had 7 published. I found my Doctor, it’s my creativity. I am also an artist and you know what they say about artists! lol What really pisses me off to no end is that someone will get a rash and go crazy learning about it on the internet. But, you tell someone you have bipolar and not one key stroke. Just immediate judgement. I felt you in your video. I was nodding “YES, I GET IT” the whole time. We are WARRIORS MARK! We are fighting a battle only we can see so when we win, even a little battle……..CELEBRATE! People often say “Why does God let me live if I’m so depressed?” You might not be on this earth for yourself, but for someone else. This thought keeps me going when I feel like giving up. Peace, Love and Understanding my friend.
Mark, you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! there is help available to you & i hope you will seek it out. With the right medication and counseling to teach you coping strategies you will succeed at building a good life. Bipolar is a treatable physiological illness. Please keep fighting and stay positive but most importantly get support. A good psychiatrist can change your life…if you don’t have one now…start looking. You can manage your illness…I watch my son do it every day!
Making this video is so brave of you….stay strong and keep the faith!
Thanks for your encouraging words
Mark, What a powerful story you’ve told that will help many others. The things you have overcome is a testimony of the inner strength that still resides in you. Mental illness has not taken that strength away from you. Keep up the good fight.
Thank God for you & your story! we have something in common…I was also diagnosed bipolar. I’ve seen many Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, therapists. I’ve received many different diagnosis; making things more challenging when your trying to seek help/be proactive. I keep getting mixed messages.’your fine nothings wrong with you, it’s all in your head’ you nailed it! Loved your poem! My mother would like me to take a temporary leave of absence from work. Recent Dr visit & mania on overdrive ugh…sleeping has been challenging this last week. Doc said I am burning the candle at both ends. I struggle with medication. I have tried the synthetic drugs (medication ) & end up being allergic. This last week I was taken to emergency room. Police officer went looking for me on nearby bike path. I thought I could use some fresh air so I went for a walk. Talk about feeling like a looney toons 🙁 as you mentioned. ..sometimes all I need is a hug, reassurance. I mentioned to the Doctor regarding the bipolar disorder, the paperwork that I received said generalized anxiety. Do I just add that to the list? Are they ignoring the fact that I was diagnosed bipolar & they don’t address the fact that this is mania? I’m not a doctor. I look to them for professional advise…I’m so sick of reaching out for help & getting shunned 🙁 I know I need help. It just sucks because I feel like either they don’t believe me /was I misdiagnosed? I don’t think people/medical professionals believe me. Am I putting up that good a front? Like you said, I didn’t want anyone to know my deep dark secret. It’s none of anybody biz but God & me. I know it’s not ok to suffer in silence. Sometimes like you said, I just want to be alone so nobody sees me going thru it. I have an incredible man in my life. Loving, supportive. I just hope n pray that God blesses you & me with people that are going to lift us up not put us down or kick us while we’re down.May god bless us all real good ♡ God bless Mark! Thank you again for sharing, ‘sharing is caring’ 🙂 “nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible! “
Mark!! I am just in awe of you and want to thank you for being so brave and sharing your story!! I am. A mother of 3 wonderful children, 2 of which have bipolar disorder. I would be lying if I said it’s been easy. It hasn’t but they are both on the road to recovery and living with their illness. This journey has made me a better mother, a better human being! I tell them both all the time that their illness doesn’t define who they are as human beings. That it is just something they have. I am so proud of where they have come so far and am waiting to see where their life takes them. They see this world a little differently than I do and have brought and continue to bring such joy in my life. Thank you for sharing your story!! It is my mission as a mother, nurse and human to end the stigma of mental illness once and for all. God bless you! ❤️
Thank you for sharing that Video Mark. We are pretty a like. I was diagnosed bipolar 12 years ago. I’ve been in the hospital 3 times because of this illness I’ve been living with. It is hard to live with bipolar, ADHD, and high blood pressure. I’m grateful for your story. Poetry is something I like to do also. I have had to deal with being stigmatized by people in my family, church, and past jobs. I know the feeling of isolation and the fear of abandonment. It is almost unbearable and I wouldn’t wish the pain I’ve felt on anyone. You’re right. Sometimes all we need is a check up phone call, a hug, or the company of a caring and understanding person. I’m grateful for your video. You are very courageous. I’ve been wanting to make a video myself but I’m still nervous or wimpy about it. A little scared I guess. The stigma has hurt me a lot of times over the years. I just lost my job a couple weeks ago so I feel I’m not a shining example to end the stigma. But know you’re not alone. I’m grateful to know I’m not alone. May you be safe, at ease, stronger feeling, and may you be happy. Thanks again for your video. Peace, friend.
Oh sweet Mark. I have been struggling with this disease since my early teens. I am now 56. Three people in my immediate family shot themselves in the head. My dear brother did, just last april. I have tried to kill myself 3 times and my family wanted me committed. WTH. I was a bother to them, my constant disconnect from people, my anger and my weird rants. I started to write poetry in 1988 and have had 7 published. I found my Doctor, it’s my creativity. I am also an artist and you know what they say about artists! lol What really pisses me off to no end is that someone will get a rash and go crazy learning about it on the internet. But, you tell someone you have bipolar and not one key stroke. Just immediate judgement. I felt you in your video. I was nodding “YES, I GET IT” the whole time. We are WARRIORS MARK! We are fighting a battle only we can see so when we win, even a little battle……..CELEBRATE! People often say “Why does God let me live if I’m so depressed?” You might not be on this earth for yourself, but for someone else. This thought keeps me going when I feel like giving up. Peace, Love and Understanding my friend.