mental illness issues Archives - Page 8 of 52 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

How I Know What Is Bipolar and What Is Me

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 20, 2021

Yesterday, I was asked how I know what is bipolar and what is me. As in, when I’m having a thought, emotion, or impulse, how do I know which of those things is coming from the bipolar disorder and which are genuinely me? This is not a simple question. The edges between me and the bipolar disorder are fuzzy. Bipolar disorder can be very loud and overtake my own voice. And while I’m sure I don’t get it right 100 percent of the time, I do know what is bipolar and what is me.

Chronic Illness Diagnosis Impact — Bipolar, Hypermobility, POTS

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Oct 7, 2021

Bipolar disorder has been a chronic illness for me, and my chronic illness diagnosis of bipolar disorder happened around when I was 20. That was 23 years ago. I have become a bipolar disorder expert since then due to years and years of study since then. On top of that, I have all those years of personal experience dealing with a chronic mental illness. But now, I’ve been diagnosed with new chronic illnesses. So there are some questions. Is chronic illness diagnosis easier this time around? What does it feel like to be given life-altering diagnoses after already having a life-altering mental illness? And what’s the impact of new chronic illness on existing serious mental illness?

Why I Hate People Who Say ‘Find God’ to Cure Bipolar Disorder

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 29, 2021

People tell me to “find god” to cure my bipolar disorder. I understand that people have various motivations for doing this, and the motivations tend not to be sinister, but that doesn’t make me appreciate this sentiment in the least. These people are imposing and pious, and self-righteous, and as a rule, these are characteristics I don’t care for in people. If you’re looking for a response to people who tell you to find god to cure your bipolar disorder or if you’re the kind of person that offers that kind of advice, read on.

People with Bipolar Deserve Love

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 21, 2021

People with bipolar disorder deserve love — the same love as everyone else. It’s important to realize this if you have bipolar disorder, yes, but it’s important that everyone else realize that truism too. Love isn’t something that is reserved for the perfect or the able, love is something that humans get to feel, period. Learn more about why I know that people with bipolar disorder deserve love.

Work Around Bipolar: Bipolar Is an Illness of Workarounds

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 1, 2021

Bipolar is an illness of workarounds. As in, I constantly have to find ways to work around bipolar disorder. In fact, if there’s one coping skill that matters most when it comes to dealing with this serious mental illness, it’s being creative in finding alternate paths. So let’s talk about bipolar workarounds — how we can find them and how we can use them.

How to Help Someone Who Is Suicidal

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 24, 2021

Helping someone who is suicidal is daunting. In fact, even for me, someone who works in mental health, helping someone who is suicidal can be tough. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, however. If you’re here and looking for how to help a suicidal person, you’re already doing the right thing. Thank you for caring for another person so much. Read on for tips on how to help someone who is suicidal.

You Can’t Change Your Thoughts or Feelings (No Matter How Much CBT You Do)

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 5, 2021

You can’t change how you think and you can’t change what you feel. These are truisms. I know that some people (such as some who believe strongly in cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) might tell you different, but honestly, these people are wrong. These people are misunderstanding the situation. After dealing with bipolar disorder — a disordered and out-of-control brain — for more than two decades, I can attest to having tried very hard to change how I feel and think. However, the impossibility of this has become imminently clear to me.

July Is Disability Pride Month — What Is Disability Pride?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jul 27, 2021

July is disability pride month. When I learned this, I was left wondering, what is disability pride. I know that people have been made to feel bad about their disabilities for most of history; this is clearly wrong, but isn’t disability “pride” taking it a step too far? I am disabled and here’s my take July as Disability Pride Month and disability pride in general.

Recent Mental Health Podcast Interviews

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jul 12, 2021

As you may know, I take part in mental health podcasts quite frequently. Recently, I’ve discussed issues such as mental illness as a disability, what people with and without mental illness need to know about suicide and one of my pet peeves when people try to look for the “bright side” of mental illness. Three mental health podcasts I’ve done were released quite recently and I want to share them with you.