I am a very passionate & determined person. I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe life is beautiful and an enormous adventure. I believe there is always a rainbow through every rain cloud. I believe we are always, always exactly where we are meant to be. I trust the journey.

 

But the rug was pulled out from under me in September 2014 when I was given the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.  

Since then I have been on an incredible and emotional journey - I can't believe how much has happened and how much I've changed since then!

 

I needed to be able to turn what I considered at the time to be an awful situation, that could have ruined my life, into a good thing. I wasn't prepared to let it decrease the value of my life. So I started to write - a lot - and I read, and researched, and discovered, and read some more. I wanted to find out as much as I could about this condition and about the mind and mental health - knowledge is power right? On the way along this path I not only found many ways to manage my mental health but I also got to know my own mind and body better than I ever have before. Its been an enlightening experience! I have become enormously fascinated with the human mind and its amazing capacity and have become passionate about raising awareness in mental health.

 

Although recovery and continued well-being takes a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment, I feel almost thankful for my struggle, as without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength and I want to help other people to feel that way - I really do believe that everything does happen for a reason! I know for sure I will still get very low and very high in life, but I've finally been able to accept the fact that sensitive is just how I was made, that I don't have to hide it and I don't have to fix it. I'm not broken. If anything I believe this has enhanced my life - my initial reaction was relief as I finally had an explanation for my many years of struggles. Had I not had my diagnosis then I wouldn't have been on this continuing journey of discovery.

 

I honestly believe that we are all exactly who, what and where we are supposed to be at every given time in life - I would even go as far to say that I feel blessed. Although it is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply! I'm stronger now because I have had to be, I'm smarter because of the mistakes I've made and I'm happier because of the sadness I've known. But the best thing is that I'm now wiser because of all I have learnt. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude determines how your life will become. Positive people visit the dark side at times, we just don't move in! What a wonderful thought it is that some of our best days haven't happened yet?!

 

So this blog is about sharing my continuing story of claiming my life back, raising awareness and working to try and reduce the stigma of mental health. I can only hope beyond hope I can help other people in similar situations to my own.