Best of the Best: GoodTherapy.org’s Favorite Blogs about Bipolar

Most, if not all, people go through ups and downs, mood swings, and phases of depressive thoughts. But for some, ups and downs come in the form of more severe mania and depression, or a bipolar spectrum. There are a few different types of bipolar, which generally consists of manic phases (high energy, elevated moods) and depressive phases (low energy, lack of motivation) which alternate at varying speeds depending on the person.

Some people with a diagnosis of bipolar use medication to regulate manic and depressive swings. Others use alternative medicine or lifestyle changes to cope with the flow of bipolar stages. Many find that therapy helps them track manic/depressive phases and make sense of patterns of anger, mood changes, and other factors. Their treatment method(s) may depend on their type of bipolar diagnosis or simply their personal preference.

The body of research on bipolar continues to grow, and it’s relatively easy to find online resources—including GoodTherapy.org—that help answer questions about the experience of bipolar and various ways of coping and healing. But there is no substitute for firsthand accounts, and reading about another person’s experience can be enlightening. Luckily, many people are blogging about how they are affected by bipolar and the treatment methods they are exploring.

Bipolar, Unemployed, & Lost

If you’re looking for real talk, the B.U.L. Blog is your source. Tempus Bell blogs in bite-size pieces about the challenges of finding at-home self-help methods, anger issues co-occurring with bipolar, and the struggle of finding medication that works. Tempus shares links to helpful mental health-related resources, as well as fun music. Guest bloggers occasionally share their experiences with bipolar on the B.U.L. Blog, too. http://bipolarunemployedlost.com/

Bipolar Out Loud

Nine contributors make up the network of bloggers featured on Bipolar Out Loud, each with a unique-but-relatable mental health background. Bipolar Out Loud is one of our favorites because like GoodTherapy.org, the mission of this organization strives to further the conversation about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and use positive, empowering language: At Bipolar Out Loud, we believe that what mainstream society calls ‘mental illness’ can be a gift and an exceptional opportunity for spiritual growth and enlightenment.” http://www.bipolaroutloud.com/

The Bipolar Blogger Network

In addition to updating a blog with multiple authors several times a day, the Bipolar Blogger Network is a hub of dozens of blogs related to bipolar. (In fact, many of our favorites are also featured here.) The site is a wonderful starting point for researching different bloggers and choosing a few to follow. It’s also a great site to visit first because it proves, refreshingly, that there are indeed many people talking and writing about bipolar and other mental health issues. http://www.bipolarbloggernetwork.com/

Insights from a Bipolar Bear

Bradley is “Just a guy sharing the wacky world of bipolar disorder, the humbling experience of getting in shape and some random thoughts sprinkled in.” He writes about the good days, the bad days, and everything in between. Started in 2008, this blog is an extensive resource for someone looking for more information about bipolar. Check out his post “Beginners Guide to Bipolar Disorder” as a starting point! http://www.insightsbipolarbear.com/

Running Naked with Scissors

One of our favorite posts on Lizzie’s blog is called “Bipolar Bytes: Does the Terminology Change Anything?” in which she tackles the debate about saying one has bipolar, rather than one is bipolar. As she states, “when you have bipolar disorder (or whatever other disorder, insert here) and are so much more than the sum of its parts, you don’t want all the other parts to be discounted in the big picture of you.” For this and many other reasons, Running Naked with Scissors is one of our favorite candid accounts of someone with bipolar. We think you’ll enjoy Lizzie’s voice, as well as her commitment to educating others about bipolar and destigmatizing mental health issues. http://runningnakedwithscissors.com/

Bipolar Mom Life

Jennifer Marshall contributed 5 Ways I’m Beating Bipolar Every Day to the Good Therapy Blog in 2013, and her personal blog is still one of the most well written and informative accounts of motherhood, bipolar, and postpartum depression. In addition to the writing she has done to combat mental health stigma and educate others about bipolar and other mental health issues, Jennifer co-founded a nonprofit organization that helps people share their experience through music, poems, and essays live on stage. You can watch videos of these performances on YouTube. http://bipolarmomlife.com/

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