Bipolar Disorder Warrior Tips

Take the break if you need it. Take an extra day off when things feel overwhelming. Space out your assignments and goals if that helps you keep going. Rest is not wasted time, it’s part of being able to continue. A lot of men push themselves because they feel behind or think they have to meet deadlines they created in their heads. But stress is real, and so are anxiety and depression. Ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear, it usually shows up somewhere else, mentally or physically. You can’t pour into school if you’re running on empty. 5 years ago, when I was in the peak of my college research help hustle, I was diagnosed with bipolar 1, anxiety and depression. At the time, it felt like my entire life changed. My heart would race for no reason, my stomach would drop constantly, and my mind never slowed down. I was thinking about everything all at once. The college stuff hustle became one of the hardest parts because it already wasn’t a place I enjoyed, and anxiety made it feel impo...

 As a mental health advocate from Kenya, I am certain that a great number of mental health survivors are unable to afford medication or therapy services, or even both. This is because most communities still hold to the traditional ways of dealing with the condition. Biggest reason is lack of awareness for mental health at the community levels. Most people only become aware of how important it is when the illnesses finally manifests physically; which is always very tragic and undesired. To most of them, mental illness is a western thing, and any traits displayed by mental illness survivors are described differently by different cultures. This is because different groups have different lenses through which they look at mental health issues. The lenses are primarily directed by an interplay of the underlying culture, values, beliefs, and norms. It explains the high prevalence of stigma surrounding mental health in Kenya. The aftermath of the inconsistent views regarding the topi...

 Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to how it affects men. In this article, I, Dancan Odingo, a bipolar survivor, share my experiences to shed light on this complex condition and raise awareness in our communities. While some experiences may overlap with other mental illnesses, fellow bipolar warriors will recognize the odyssey I describe here, as well as in my blogs and social media posts. Understanding Bipolar Disorder- More Than an Identity It's crucial to clarify that bipolar disorder is not an identity. It manifests through various signs and symptoms. My diagnosis wasn't the result of advanced psychiatry, but rather the characteristics I exhibited during my first manic episode. From personal experience, I believe that those who live with bipolar disorder have carried it since birth. Drawing from my research and credible stories I've encountered, I argue that no one is completely immune to this condition. The concept of "neuroplastic...

In a world full of distractions and challenges, no excuse should deter anyone from their fitness goals. As a survivor of a mental health condition, I have learned the invaluable lesson of maintaining a fit body despite any odds. Physical fitness fundamentally creates a robust and unbreakable sense of self. This principle hinges on believing in yourself and your capabilities. Unfortunately, mental health is often misrepresented, leading to widespread misconceptions. As a result, many people are misled by inaccurate explanations rather than relying on scientifically proven findings. Achieving holistic healing through mental health challenges is highly complex, making it crucial for survivors to engage in activities that nourish their emotions and help them develop a stronger sense of self. This article explores my personal journey in building a substantial sense of self through fitness. After a long struggle with an unmedicated and mostly undiagnosed mental health condition—ranging from ...

  As a survivor of Bipolar Disorder from the sub-Sahara African regions, I have a first-hand experience of what it looks like to battle with the illness without medication or professional therapy. Briefly, about my condition, the extent of anxiety that came with an instant shift in my financial condition that was mercilessly derailed by COVID-19 got me into a psychotic breakdown. The situation was followed by an admission into a psychiatric ward where I was subjected to an injection that sent me to unconscious sleep for three consecutive days. Weeks after leaving the hospital, curiosity and worry got me looking up further for the condition on the internet. After learning more about the condition, I was able to come to terms with the new label of Bipolar Disorder, something that has far kept me sane since I am always on the lookout for all the possible coping mechanisms. However, the internet strategy has not always been effective since it has sometimes involved situations of mild r...

     As a mental health enthusiast, I am firmly convinced that an individual’s surroundings and the society at large have a great significance on their recovery and healing process from a mental health crisis. Even though society is always oblivious to the impacts of their responses and behaviours on those suffering from various mental health problems, they contribute to more than half of the healing process. Referencing my own experience, my entire healing process is attributed to the societal treatment alongside their responses towards me during the peak seasons of my mental health crisis. The psyche wrestling with the incongruity of how I wanted society to view me alongside how they actually viewed me led to the constant developing and re-developing of habits that, in turn, significantly improved   my condition. After experiencing the impact of the surrounding environment on my recovery process, I developed a list of certain key factors to consider for acquiring t...