Bipolar blog Archives - Page 15 of 82 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

Working for Yourself with a Disability

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 17, 2019

Many with a disability want to know how to work for themselves. This is understandable. With a disability, working in a structured environment can be almost impossible and the flexibility of working for yourself might seem like the answer. And working for yourself with a disability can be an answer but it’s definitely harder than it sounds. Here, I’m going to talk about how I started working for myself with bipolar disorder, and my current thoughts on disability and working for yourself.

Mental Health-Improving Gifts 2019

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 5, 2019

Recently, I started looking for mental health-improving gifts. And while you can get something generic as a gift for mental health (like the popular weighted blanket) I want to point out some gifts really targeted at mental health, mental illness or chronic illness. Read on to learn about gifts for those with mental illness, their loved ones or those who just care about mental health (in other words, these are gifts for everyone).

What Trauma-Informed Care Gets Wrong About Bipolar Disorder

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 4, 2019

“Trauma-informed care” is a semi-new buzzword that is heard all over right now but trauma-informed care gets a lot wrong when it comes to bipolar disorder (and other serious mental illnesses). I don’t say this because I don’t think trauma-informed care works — I think it probably does. But like anything, it only works for a certain population; and, like with anything fashionable, right now (look, it has its own conference) they are trying to shoehorn it onto every population. And when it comes to bipolar disorder, trauma-informed care gets a lot wrong.

Toxic Positivity Around Mental Illness

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 14, 2019

I despise toxic positivity and I especially despise toxic positivity around my mental illness. Toxic positivity shrouds itself in “helpfulness” and yet hides a shiv beneath it. Toxic positivity comes in forms like, “Yoga will help your anxiety,” or “Meditation will calm your feelings of depression,” and when you scowl, it is then followed quickly by the words, “I’m just trying to help.” Well, here’s the thing, positivity may have its place in the world and in mental illness, but when positivity crosses the line and becomes something that actually hurts instead of helps — that’s toxic positivity and it has no place around serious mental illness.

Bipolar Symptoms Feel Like Punishment

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 7, 2019

I have felt for years that bipolar symptoms feel like punishment. It’s not so much the regular, everyday symptoms that feel that way — it’s more the bipolar symptoms suffered after fun that feel like punishment the most. It feels like if something good occurs or if I feel good for some reason, the bipolar won’t like that and it’ll come up and whop me with a punishment. This week is a perfect example of this. I’m being punished with bipolar symptoms because of receiving an award in Vegas last week.

Bipolar and Delusions: What Are They? What Are They Like? Who Gets Them?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 9, 2019

Delusions in bipolar disorder are common. It depends on where you draw the line as to how many people actually get them. What I can say for sure is that the majority of people with bipolar disorder do experience psychosis, and delusions are commonly (although not necessarily) a part of that. Here is what we know about delusions in bipolar disorder.

Take Responsibility for Your Feelings in Mental Illness

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 25, 2019

I wish people would take responsibility for their feelings and not blame me for them. Somehow, it’s my problem, as a writer, if my piece makes other people feel something that they don’t want to feel. Trigger warnings are supposed to mitigate this but you wouldn’t believe what I get crap for writing. In short, I wish people would learn to take responsibility for their feelings and not place the responsibility on me — a stranger.

Can People with Mental Illness ‘Fake It ‘Til They Make It?’ Can Anyone?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 18, 2019

Fake it ’til you make it” with mental illness, does that actually work? In fact, does that really work when it comes to anything? Considering how often you hear it, it seems like it should. Here’s an examination of faking it and making it in specific situations and when you have a serious mental illness like bipolar disorder.

Life-Saving Suicide Posts — Whether You’re Suicidal or Not

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 10, 2019

I’d like to spend some time this World Suicide Prevention Day sharing what I feel are life-saving suicide posts for people that are suicidal and for those who are not. I’ve spent more than a decade writing about suicide, suicide attempts and other mental health-related topics. I’ve covered a lot of ground. These posts have helped save lives over and over. No, this isn’t ego talking, this is the power of words talking. Suicide information does have the power to be life-saving.

So, if you are suicidal or if you need to support someone who might be suicidal, please review these suicide-related posts.