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Bipolar Barbie: My Story

My Story: Bipolar Barbie

I ended up dropping out of law school and moving across the country to follow my dreams of becoming a museum curator by studying ancient history and fine art. Unfortunately, my mental state deteriorated and I was severely suicidal for many months. For the first time, I was sent to a psychiatrist and was re-diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder in 2014.

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My Story: John Michael

My Story: John Michael

I was also experiencing a lot of manic episodes, suicidal thoughts, rapid cycling, deep depression, and drinking alcohol a lot. One night I completely broke. I had racing thoughts, stressing out, talking fast to myself, acting nervous, manic, and was suicidal and had a plan to end my life. This episode helped me to make a decision and choose to seek help at a local hospital [then transferred to a mental hospital]. While I was admitted, I saw a counselor and a team of doctors,…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on January 29, 2019
My Story: Lisa

My Story: Lisa

After two years of fighting these incredible lows, something new happened... My first manic episode. I was 15 years old when I was hospitalized and diagnosed with manic depression. The doctors said I was the youngest person they'd ever diagnosed with manic depression. I'd always felt like I was different than everyone else and like I never fit in with anyone. Then when I was diagnosed with a mental illness, I even felt more alone. I had so many different emotions. I wanted to know,…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on October 16, 2018
My Story: Nicole Shaw

My Story: Nicole Shaw

Leading up to my diagnosis was beautiful and intense. I was manic for almost a year before my diagnosis. I pieced a timeline together with old Facebook posts and pictures and texts to help pinpoint when my episodes started. My episode started when I began working 60-hour weeks to be out of my dark apartment and drinking a fifth of alcohol a day to try and balance life. I was delusional and hallucinating. Both my delusion and hallucinations were in overdrive and were at times…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 4, 2018
My Story: Rosie

My Story: Rosie

It took three doctor appointments, two referrals, and a complaint to get seen by a psychiatrist who didn't believe anything I told them. I thought I had bipolar after doing research. I knew this was more than just depression. After going from psychiatrist to psychiatrist, I finally found a fantastic psychiatrist who listened to everything I said, listened to my story, looked at my mood diary chart and I got the diagnosis of bipolar II. I was absolutely over the moon! Finally, I had an…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on July 23, 2018

My Story: Melissa

Before seeking help, I had so much rage in me, and it would build up and then when it did I would explode. It could be months worth of anger coming out because of something as little as spilled milk on the counter. I couldn't keep my thoughts straight. I had a million things running through my head and only catching bits and pieces of the thoughts. So that made me angry too.

by NewLifeOutlook Team on June 5, 2018

My Story: Faith Elizondo

I was first diagnosed in 2007. I was 27 years old, newly divorced and left my three children with their father. I believe going from being a wife and a mother to just myself took its toll on me. I couldn't sleep, I was so paranoid I left my vehicle on the road and began walking, thinking there was a bomb in it. I would leave my apartment in the middle of the night and walk miles, and on some days I felt the ground…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on December 20, 2017
My Story: Elly Lannager

My Story: Elly Lannager

In 2002, I began to see a therapist who noticed a change in my behavior. I was risk-taking, agitated and talking fast. I agreed to see a psychiatrist as she felt I was showing symptoms of mania. After a long conversation with the psychiatrist, I wanted to mention this to my doctor. When the doctors described the symptoms of mania to me, I was surprised at first. I just thought those behaviors were okay. On the mania scale, I ran a bit high. We determined…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on November 6, 2017
My Story: AJ

My Story: AJ

After many strained relationships and one failed marriage, I found someone who is living with the same condition as me. I lived 38 years untreated and Lindsey, my girlfriend, was the one person who told me it was okay to seek help for a problem I was afraid to face. It has been over two months since I started seeking help. Not only have my prescriptions saved me from myself but they helped me become the person I should have been all along.

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 27, 2017

My Story: Nanci Hemingway

I was diagnosed when I was 50. My doctor said that my tremendous drive to succeed at work and raise children kept this hidden. I can look back into my lifetime and see that I had it high school. A victim of bullies in school to the point where I developed an eating disorder and nearly died. To this day I can picture those women. Now I focus on taking care of myself, surrounding myself with people who are caring and I giving back to…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 20, 2017
My Story: Elizabeth

My Story: Elizabeth

My earliest memory was suffering from anxiety attacks at the age of 6. When I was 11, I began to self-harm, I felt relief when I was angry or sad, but I kept it to myself. I was off and on a myriad of antidepressants until I was diagnosed with bipolar at 19. I dismissed the diagnosis and began my journey down a long road of crippling depression and anxiety along with the over the top manic highs. I realized that my explosive anger, mood…

by NewLifeOutlook Team on September 13, 2017
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