Something changed when Sasha W. noticed the hot pink running shoes sitting in the corner of her bedroom. She was 27 at the time and struggling with the worst depressive valley of her life. As she lay ...

Whenever James M. feels stressed, he logs onto his computer and writes it all away. He says that journaling has been a major source of strength and hope in managing his bipolar 1 disorder. His online ...

In his next column for bpHope, Dr. Phelps will be exploring one of the most commonly prescribed medications for bipolar, one that many of you have likely taken. Before he begins, he’d like to know ...

I went through a rough breakup more than a decade ago. I withdrew from my friends and family, crying constantly. I felt like I’d lost the spark that makes me who I am. During that time, food tasted ...

In fact, other findings show that daily exercise can boost your mood and even improve your cognition. Not to mention, breaking a sweat is often free, or nearly so — and fun! It’s easy to find mistaken ...

“Would you like a piece of cake?” a coworker asked as she thrust a chocolate square dripping with frosting at me. My response of “No, thank you” was met with a quizzical look. Being able to “Just Say ...

There’s no question that it’s difficult to get things done when you’re depressed as a result of your bipolar disorder. I’ve certainly had a hard time with this for most of my life. I had plenty of ...

Motivation can feel elusive when you live with bipolar disorder. Some days, bipolar depression takes hold, making you feel completely unmotivated and struggling to get out of bed or shower. On other ...

There is profound comfort in knowing you aren’t alone in your struggles. Because life with bipolar disorder brings unique periods of uncertainty, the messages you tell yourself matter. In difficult ...

Motivation is that mysterious force that gets us moving and helps us accomplish what we need — or wish — to get done. A behavioral model known as the Stages of Change Theory helps explain how this ...

Whether you have bipolar disorder or your partner does, the end of a relationship often ushers in dark feelings like abandonment, guilt, and rejection. Even if the relationship was toxic and getting ...

Bipolar disorder has taught me that waiting until I’m in a crisis is never the best time to make a plan. For me, mania doesn’t build slowly — sometimes it escalates within hours. That’s why I’ve ...