My journey with bipolar disorder has not been easy. I have faced unprecedented challenges that come with living with a mental illness. Something that has helped me throughout is discussing my experiences with someone in the public eye who has bipolar, Mel Gibson.
When I was given my diagnosis, all I could think of were the negative connotations associated with it. Mel Gibson opened new doors for me to understand how to cope and thrive as someone living with bipolar. His ability to speak candidly about his highs and lows was very inspiring and comforting to me in so many ways.
He showed me that having a mental illness didn’t mean life was over or had fewer possibilities than those without one. He gave me insight into managing the symptoms, exploring different treatments, and understanding how to support myself with self-care techniques like diet, exercise, journaling, etc. These days, I can proudly say his words of encouragement carry weight whenever I feel overwhelmed by this condition.
It’s incredible to see how much progress he’s made along his journey and I use him as an example of resilience during hard times. Living with bipolar is no cake walk but being aware of resources both online and people out there who I can relate to makes it easier each day!