15 episodes
I'm Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
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- Health & Fitness
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4.8 • 9 Ratings
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If you live with depression or bipolar, do you remember your first experiences with symptoms? How did you feel? Alone? Confused? Ashamed?
What about the challenges you overcame? Whether setting up your first therapy appointment, finding a support group, working through a hospital stay, or opening up to a loved one about what you were experiencing, you have faced and overcome several challenges — big and small — along your wellness journey.
I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self is a blog and podcast series created to share the experiences of young adults who live with depression or bipolar. Each new episode features a young adult reading a letter to a younger version of themselves detailing their first brush with depression or bipolar. The series spotlights that when we take time to reflect on our experiences and circumstances we often find, with overwhelming proof, the strength we have shown during some of our greatest challenges.
Learn more about I'm Living Proof and submit your own story: https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/
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I'm Living Proof: Coming to Terms with Bipolar
Mik knew something was wrong when at ten years old, she experienced suicidal ideation. What started as something she couldn't understand took her on a journey which ended up with her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Now, Mik bravely shares her experience through humor and educational videos online and discusses her journey and activism with us.
MiK B is a mental health advocate who lives with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and ADHD. Mik shares her story online with others through TikTok, Instagram, and her website. She is passionate about positively impacting the mental health world through sharing her personal experiences and providing a community for people living with Bipolar disorder. Find her on Instagram and Tiktok @mikb_itme.
Read Mik's letter
Support DBSA
Submit your letter -
I'm Living Proof: Anger is a Double-Edge Sword
When Sadie finds out she has been diagnosed with bipolar, she doesn’t know what to expect from life. Sadie details her journey with bouts of depression and dealing with binge eating while trying to navigate her way through school. Sadie discovers an empowering journey of activism, finding sobriety, and creating a community of friends who understand what she is all about.
Read Sadie's Letter
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5 steps to take after a bipolar disorder diagnosis
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I’m Living Proof: Healing is There for You
For Sierra, coming to terms with her diagnosis of bipolar II was a journey. Through her perseverance and with some support from her family she has found that she is living proof.
Read Sierra's Letter https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/sierra/
https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/ (Learn more about I'm Living Proof )
https://secure.everyaction.com/xBpsJJ7nt0a1iD9FC0EH3Q2 (Support DBSA) -
I'm Living Proof: You’re Not Alone
For Brianna, it was a long road to find the support she needed for her diagnosis of depression and bipolar. Brianna's journey helped her realize that her younger self knew that something was wrong despite people around her telling her otherwise. Brianna takes us through her story and her experiences with living with periods of mania, hospitalization, substance use and ultimately finding people who believe in her and believing in herself. In overcoming a great deal of adversity, Brianna has found that she is living proof.
Read Brianna's Letter: https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/brianna/
If you are experiencing Domestic Violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788, find out more here https://www.thehotline.org/
Additional Resources
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence | https://ncadv.org/
Victim Connect Resource Center | https://victimconnect.org/ -
I’m Living Proof: We Carry Each Other
For James, leaving school during freshman year to focus on treatment was challenging. While feeling every one of his plans was derailed, through a commitment to his treatment, he comes to find the gratitude for those who helped him seek support. Read James’ letter to his younger self.
https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/im-living-proof-james/ (ReadJames' Letter)
https://www.dbsalliance.org/programs-im-living-proof/ (Learn more about I'm Living Proof )
https://secure.everyaction.com/xBpsJJ7nt0a1iD9FC0EH3Q2 (Support DBSA) -
I’m Living Proof: I Am Not Resilient
For Katrina, imagining loving everything about herself seemed impossible but in her letter to her younger self, she has come to a place in which she does. She talks to us about her journey to become the mental health advocate and podcast host she is today.
Read Katrina's Letter
Learn more about I'm Living Proof
Support DBSA
Customer Reviews
Parental comfort
Listening to these letters and conversations has provided me great comfort and hope as our daughter — a teen — navigates her mental health issues. It has helped me understand that we still have a long road to travel, but more importantly, that there is light at the end of the tunnel.