I discovered NAMI in 2015 when I saw a flier in my psychiatrist’s office.
Hi. My name is Nicholas Lima and I am 31 years old. I was diagnosed in 2002 at 16 years old. I have struggled with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. After years of being a psych patient, I feel amazing, thank God.
Together we can!

Hi, my name is Ybsa, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 30, but since my teenager years I suffer from highs and lows, all my psychiatrists diagnosed me with mayor depression, because I never revealed my manic stages, until my last psychiatrist asks me some questions that revealed and diagnosed bipolar disorder I with psychosis.

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I am 32, a United States Marine Corps veteran, an auditor and I am living with bipolar disorder II, which causes symptoms of anxiety and depression episodes.

I never truly understood what it meant to have a mental illness until I realized that I was constantly worrying and feeling down. My depression episodes manifested as days of extreme lows where I struggled to get out of bed and perform day-to-day tasks and activities. I spoke to some friends who were dealing with similar symptoms, and they encouraged me to seek professional help. My bipolar diagnosis was identified when I was in a serious car accident while experiencing a manic episode.

Discovering a mental illness while recovering from a major accident was not easy. Here is what helped me accept my diagnosis and recover from my physical and mental injuries:

• My family and friends stepped up tremendously ready to assist and encourage me. I was an emotional and mental mess, and they helped put me back together.
• I had to position myself to receive advice from my family and friends who are familiar with mental illness and are actively managing their own mental illnesses. I also had to remain open to receiving information regarding coping strategies, being mindful of my mood and warning signs of a potential manic episode or manic depression.
• Setting small goals helped me find my way back to myself. I am not the same person I was before the accident, and trying to get back to that person is not realistic. I had to accept the now me in order to move forward.   

Today, I am different because I am living with my diagnosis and my diagnosis is not controlling me. I see my therapist and psychologist on a regular basis. I am mindful of my mood on a daily basis and aware of the warning signs of manic and depressive episodes. I ultimately have taken charge of my life and my health.

There is a need for mental illness to be recognized as a real and serious condition in community specifically the African American community. People need to be educated on the various mental illness diagnoses and symptoms and see a therapist at least 2-4 times a year to maintain their mental health. Education and therapy ensure they are not putting themselves or others in danger. Many people are unaware of their mental illness and choose to suffer in silence. We need to end this process of thinking and encourage people to seek support.

Mental illness screenings should be done 2-4 times a year for preventative reasons, just like an annual physical examinations and biannual dental cleanings. Mental illness screenings should be no different.

My hope is that people who live with mental illness and the people who love them will eventually see all health as equally important.

I’m a survivor! My late twenties and thirties were unseemingly difficult times of anxiety, depression, and mania. Financial hardship, domestic  violence, and lack of job security fueled this cycle. I had been misdiagnosed and misunderstood by medical professionals, family, and friends. I was finally diagnosed  at 38 years old shortly after giving birth to my second child. The pregnancy threw me into a  crisis. Why did it take so long? I compensated intellectually for the most part. As a special educator, formally trained registered nurse, and other experiential knowledge, I knew all the right things to say and do. As an attractive socialite, I appeared to be fine too. Time ran out in my late thirties. My body and EVERYONE was sick and tired of me. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations eventually justified why I couldn’t get my act together. It took several years before I got the right psychiatrist, counselors, caseworker, support groups, medications, diet, excercise, sleep routine etc. I’m still working daily at perfecting holistic care for myself while raising a 6 year old, guiding my 18 year old college student, working part time and actively contributing to my community. I thank God I can now help others and their families live with mental illness. 

Enough is enough!  The challenge of living with a mental illness has struck me and many members of my family, female and male, and today, I am taking a stand. I will be their voice…for anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and more. I will not walk in shame and defeat for my head is lifted to the sky. I will not let society put us in a category, define us, or mark us as “crazy” or “half cracked”. We have to address mental illness in our global society and aim to defeat it like any other illness of the body. It has no perspective race, gender, or culture and it comes to steal the joy of living on this beautiful earth.

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My girlfriend has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder I’m a black and white kind of guy I dont really believe in a gray area. I love her but in our relationship there have been ups and downs just like any other relationship but I never cheated and neither has she that I know of. I feel like i have to talk her off of a ledge every day just to get her to go to work now i have recently lost my job and its only been 2 weeks and i start working next week but in her mind we are homeless and poor and everything is falling apart now I tell her we are fine I just took out my 401k so Bill’s are paid and when they come up again I’ll be working by then what I’m on here for is some answers please someone let me know am I going to have to go through this for the rest of my life I feel like no matter how hard I try or what I do she is still in a bad place im feel like I’m losing myself and her!

My name is Gthreesongs why because I don’t really like sharing my name because of things that happened in the past. I probably suffer from bipolar disorder or depression and anxiety and maybe Schizophrenia but there is hope for people that suffer from it just have good friends and love life and your family or if something is happening where you don’t like your family chose your friends.

Hi uy I’m 26 years old I was young when I was diagnosed with ADHD and later on with manic depression and bipolar disorder soon after was labeled as schizoaffective disorder and I’ve learned how to cope with it over the years I would to go on tell you my hole story.

            My name is Jennifer and I am a recovered mental illness survivor—

            I have endured severe mental illness for over half my life.  During that time, I suffered from clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

            Due to the depression, my behaviors ranged from excessive crying to excessive sleeping to suicide attempts.  I felt feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness.  All I thought I wanted to do was die.   But in fact, what I really wanted was help with overcoming my severe sadness.

            During my manic states, I endured impulsive, spontaneous, and irresponsible behaviors.  I felt on top of world.  I felt excessive amounts of energy.  I had racing thoughts.  I had delusions of grandeur.  I’ll be honest.  It felt great to be so high, but it is also very dangerous.  Risky behaviors can lead to much endangerment of self and others.

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And I knew I wasn’t right 

So I planned on going that Friday night 

And I knew I wasn’t okay

Making it the perfect place for me to stay 

See, for most, a mental hospital isn’t a choice 

It’s one of those things where you are left without a voice 

Brought there suddenly against your will

Then before you know it, you are given a bunch of random pills 

But for me, it was where I was supposed to be

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