
Getting a Puppy Helped Me Manage Bipolar Disorder
I haven't written in a long time and an outdated blog is a pet peeve of mine, but it's just the way it goes sometimes. My mind doesn't always let the posts flow as freely as I would like. However, our puppy, Daisy, inspired this latest post and it just got published on The Mighty. Stability walked into my life on four legs — in the form of a sweet, lovable and energetic puppy named Daisy. Before we got Daisy, I was experiencing increased levels of anxiety and just more mood f

You Can't Fake Being Fine Forever
I recently read an article “When Smiling Hurts: 10 Reasons People with Depression Feign Happiness” and it definitely resonated with me. The reasons they mention for why people fake happiness are: Feeling they may be letting others down if they aren’t doing well Not wanting to alarm or cause others to worry about him/her Fearing disclosure of depression conveys weakness, personal flaw, or vulnerability Feeling if they act the part of “being happy” they will be happy Feeling li

Unwell
The last few months have been like a rollercoaster. Even though things are going well in life, I haven't necessarily felt well. There is no explanation for feeling unwell and it's extremely frustrating. This poem is the best way I can explain what it feels like. It’s a nagging feeling of unease. It’s a feeling of dread, without knowing why. It’s butterflies in my stomach. It’s a mind that can’t think. It’s the desire to accomplish so much. It’s the inability to do … anything.

Love Never Dies: Managing Grief
All it takes is the loss of a loved one to make you remember how short and precious life really is. It makes you realize what's really important in life and what isn't. On the afternoon of May 25th, I received that wake-up call when I heard the news that my grandfather died. Although his health significantly declined in the last few years, it was still somewhat sudden. You're never prepared for loss, of course. In my 33 years, I have experienced a number of losses, but none h

Getting Back to Writing
One of the biggest challenges with blogging is keeping it updated on a regular basis. Despite having lots of ideas, I haven't posted in a while. However, I'm back at it. I have recently had two articles published on The Mighty: "The Early, ‘Hurtful’ Sign of My Bipolar Disorder" and "How I Cope With Depression as a Stay-At-Home Mom." I was inspired to write both of these articles earlier this year when I was struggling a bit. The winter is always a challenging season for me; I