Health & Fitness
bp Magazine for Bipolar
Spring 2020bp Magazine empowers people with bipolar disorder to live healthy, fulfilling lives. bp delivers success stories of people living with bipolar, including celebrities. It also includes features on building healthy lifestyles—with topics like sleep, exercise, stress, treatments, relationships, and employment—and offers cutting edge news and research.
in this issue
welcome
Hollywood actors like Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy, Supergirl) seem so far removed from our daily lives—so polished, so pretty, so well-paid, so insulated from everyday problems. Truth is, Leigh deals with so much we can relate to—from caring for her children to coping with bipolar mood symptoms. In our cover story “Fighting the Good Fight,” Leigh talks about trying to create a family where it’s OK to be open and honest about emotional wellness. She’s aiming to do the same thing on a larger scale as the new celebrity face of Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health. She says the decision to go public with her diagnosis wasn’t an easy one. With quirky honesty, she describes herself as a pistachio nut that’s getting comfortable without its protective shell. And she’s feeling…
we hear you!
15 YEARS + FEHERTY THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE of bp Magazine was über-awesome! The eye-catching layout matched the quality and diversity of the articles. From the history of bipolar to personal profiles (Patty Duke and Carrie Fisher), cutting-edge research, and—my favorite—dietary suggestions. Bravo to the article on Caregivers! Even the ads interested me. The feature on David Feherty (“David Feherty Has a Tale to Tell,” Winter 2020) was very well written, engaging, and intimate. Who knew the world of golf birthed such a creative, determined, and talented guy? He came across as brave and brutally honest about his struggles with alcoholism, depression, and bipolar. The complexity of his life reminded me that bipolar is forever, but forever does not have to define me now. Happy 15th bphope!!!! Without you, this girl…
todd
AGE: 44 LOCATION: ST. IGNACE, MI DIAGNOSES: ADHD & BIPOLAR I DISORDER YEAR DIAGNOSED: 2018 • • • 1ST THING TO KNOW: Fair warning, I like to make people laugh. FAVORITE BOOKS: Anything by Mitch Albom. MOST TREASURED GIFT: My wife’s love and support. FAVORITE TV SHOW: Friends. GO-TO INDULGENCES: Mike and Ike Original Fruits, pickles, and hot sauce—not all at once! TOP OF MY PLAYLIST: The Coffee House station on SiriusXM. FOR WELL-BEING: I carry a list of 5 things I can do to improve my mood on a daily basis: Get up; Look good to feel good; Reach out for help; Declutter; and Spread kindness. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Accepting my diagnoses. Every day. MOST UNUSUAL TALENT: Interior decorating on a budget like no other! FOR STRENGTH: I lean on my higher power. Relief may not come as fast as I’d like, but it…
the pulse
Crisis Text Line maps top concerns around the U.S. Crisis counselors at the Crisis Text Line (741741) offer mental health assistance round-the-clock. An analysis of 129 million messages sent over six years showed: 56% of users said it was their first time trying to get any kind of mental health intervention 44% identified as LGBTQ+, a demographic more at risk of suicidal ideation 40% of texters in Puerto Rico and Rhode Island referenced relationship stress 30% in New Jersey were concerned about school stress 15% in Montana wrote about feelings of self-harm, while Colorado, Idaho and Utah ranked high for suicidal thoughts See more at: crisistrends.org • • • Music to our ears: ASCAP tunes in to the wellness needs of its creative members When the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) surveyed its 740,000 members—songwriters, composers and…
research
Structural changes in brain linked with suicide attempts March 2, 2020, SHENYANG, China—A new study suggests the involvement of structural alterations in the brain may play a role in suicide attempts among people with bipolar disorder. Noting both bipolar and major depressive disorder are associated with high risk for suicide, Chinese and American researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to scan the brains of people with bipolar and major depression who have and who have not had suicide attempts, as well as people with neither mood disorder (the control group). The study found that compared to the control group and people with bipolar or depression with no suicide attempts, alterations were spotted in the brains of people with either mood disorder who have had suicide attempts. Shared alterations between the two mood disorders suggest common…
it's a matter of time
Time is a unique phenomenon. We all have an equal amount of it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s easily wasted if not properly managed. It can fly, stand still, and play tricks on us. With bipolar, time is particularly relevant. It can take a decade to get the right diagnosis and years to find the right medication mix—assuming you find a doctor who is taking new patients and accepts your insurance. For me, handling routine daily activities can take a ton of time. Accomplishing more complex tasks can be overwhelming. And because my mood fluctuates so frequently, predicting how I’ll feel day to day is difficult—only time will tell! I periodically face phases of severe depression that seem to never end. Sometimes I might spend hours in an anxious, agitated state. Mania…
