Jane's Story: How Moving Forward Helped Her Manage Bipolar Disorder
How a mom used art therapy to start feeling again, and how you can, too.
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When Jane received her bipolar disorder diagnosis, she felt like her life was crumbling.
Everything in her universe seemed out of control. She didn’t know how to handle the news and feared she was doomed to a life of misery. A young mother with two children under the age of five, she didn’t have time for mental illness. For a while, she thought everything was hopeless.
With time and patience, Jane learned the best way to manage her mental health was to keep moving forward.
She started by educating herself about bipolar disorder and seeking out support from loved ones and professionals. She went to stay with her mom for a few weeks so her mother could watch the kids and give Jane time to accept her new reality.
It didn’t take long for Jane to realize that living with mental illness didn’t have to mean giving up on her dreams or goals. In fact, it was quite the opposite; embracing her condition helped her achieve more than she ever thought possible.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
- Albert Einstein
Scott Ninneman publishes two newsletters each week. The Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter features the newest content about bipolar life. The Speaking Bipolar Positivity Club Newsletter shares inspirational stories three times a week to help you maintain a positive mindset.
Discovering Art Therapy
One effective tool that helped Jane move forward was art therapy.
Jane always liked painting while in school, but as an adult, her life was too busy. However, when she started using art therapy as a way to express her emotions, she found it to be incredibly helpful.
Jane started with finger paints and got her kids involved.
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