Hi, I am Olivia. I want you to hear me say this:
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It takes a lot of effort and intentionality to remain stable with a mental health condition. It’s exhausting and limiting at times.
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The hardest truth I’ve had to accept is that I will never be cured. I will live with this condition and need to be on medication for the rest of my life.
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I prioritize simple routines. For example, I find sitting in my backyard and feeding my pet ducks to be especially calming. I also heavily rely on the presence and counsel of my loved ones.
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I wish people would stop assuming that just because they’ve had a certain experience, everyone else’s must be the same.
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I felt my bravest when I gave birth to my daughter. I have medical related trauma, so being in the hospital was difficult for me. I’m proud of how I remained grounded, even when I was in pain.
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I lost my dream job because of my illness. I ran out of PTO from taking mental health days, and my performance when I was present at work was affected also. To this day, it makes me quite sad to think about it.
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I am more empathetic and compassionate towards others because of my experiences with mental illness.
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Everything! I am an open book, and I would rather someone ask me a question than assume something incorrectly. I would want them to know that there is a difference between managed versus unmanaged bipolar disorder. So often, people assume that if you have bipolar, you must be dangerous, or a criminal, and that’s just not the case.
