Natasha Tracy's Blog, page 5

What Makes a Person Suicidal?

I've thought about what makes a person suicidal many times. Mostly, that's because I've been both actively and passively suicidal for prolonged periods of my life. It's hell, and I hate it. There are both general and specific things that make a person suicidal. Knowledge of these factors, along with ways to protect from suicidality, can help.

How to Advocate for Yourself in a Doctor’s Appointment

It can be difficult to know how to advocate for yourself in a doctor's appointment. I've been faced with this for years, and I still sometimes find it difficult. However, forming a patient-doctor alliance where you work together is part of a comprehensive wellness plan. In order to participate in this, you must be able to advocate for your own needs and wants. Here's how to advocate for yourself in a doctor's appointment.

5 Myths About Living with Bipolar — Stop Assuming

There are so many myths about what it's like to live with bipolar disorder. People constantly make assumptions about it based on media portrayals, but life is not a movie or a news report. Living with bipolar disorder is complex and varied, and what happens for some is not necessarily common for all. So, let's dispel some of the myths about what it's like to live with bipolar disorder and encourage people to stop making uneducated assumptions.

New Book Title and Cover Reveal — ‘Bipolar Rules!’

I told you a new book on bipolar disorder was coming. I've been working on it for months, and while it's not here yet, the title and cover are here. I hope you enjoy this Natasha Tracy bipolar book title and cover art reveal.

I’m Miserable — This Is How I Deal with It

Don't ask me how I am. Just don't do it. Asking me how I am will only result in one of two things: a dishonest answer or honest tears. I don't particularly care for either outcome. This is because I'm miserable. I'm hellaciously depressed and have recently undergone a couple of unfortunate situations. i do the best I can to ignore all that — after all, nothing can be done — but when I think about how I am, I get really upset. I know how I am. I'm horrible.

Natasha Tracy’s New Book Is Coming Soon

I'm extremely excited to announce that I'm releasing my second book. For those of you who don't know, I released a book in 2016, Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar. It's a combination of memoir and self-help. It was very well received by people with bipolar disorder and their loved ones alike. I've certainly written a lot since 2016, and this new book is a result of that and so much more.

Stop Forcing Platitudes for Mental Illness

I hate platitudes in general, but I especially hate platitudes when they're applied to mental illness. It's so condescending when people offer some simple piece of advice and tell you it will fix everything. It's disgustingly pious when people tell you you're looking at things or handling things the wrong way because they know of a rhyming couplet. Not only are platitudes unlikely to be helpful in general, I would suggest they are even less so for people with a mental illness (especially serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder). Here's why people need to stop offering platitudes to those with mental illness (and maybe everyone else).

My Life Lost to Bipolar Disorder

I have lost many years of life because of bipolar disorder. No, I don’t mean that I have a decreased lifespan because of bipolar disorder (although that’s likely true, too). What I mean is that there are years of living that are missing because of bipolar disorder. At 46, I can look back at the decades and see these lost years of life very clearly.

How to Get the Support for Bipolar You Need

Support for bipolar is important, but the support for bipolar that you actually need is even more so. We're all different, and the support we need is different too. The trouble is, it can be hard to get the support we need when we need it. I would say that obtaining this support is actually a skill. So, if getting the support you need for bipolar disorder is a skill, how do we learn it, and how do we practice it?

When Bipolar Makes You Useless — Forgiving Yourself

Recently, I've had days when I was useless due to bipolar disorder. My brain became a rock. I couldn't get a thought through it if I tired. And thanks to my brain's inability to think, I also couldn't work. Trying to do anything -- and I mean anything -- brought about nothing but crushing overwhelm. And all of this lack of productivity brought about a lot of self-flagellation. I need to learn to forgive myself when I'm useless because of bipolar, though.