Thanks for your courage in speaking up and being in a video. I appreciate it Hakeem.

Thank you Hakeem :) Sometimes we all need that reminder

It was really hard for me to apply for disability because I was smart. My doctor said it didn't have anything to do with that. It had to do with my level of function and ability to support myself and cope. I had to quit medical school due to a major depressive episode. It turned out that receiving disability was the healthiest thing I could do. It allowed me to manage my stress level and certainly saved my life. I have felt shame about receiving disability, but I did work for 20 years and paid into the system. I was also allowed dismissal of my $100 K plus in student loans from med school. There is no way I would have ever been able to pay that back. So, my doctor was right in recommending that path. I still feel a loss though, at not being able to finish med school. I was smart enough - I passed my first level board exam. I just couldn't do the stress of all the rest of life.

@HakeemRahim

9 жыл бұрын

Jenn thank you for sharing part of your journey. I think the thing to remember is we have a diagnosis, but we are not the label. We are intelligent and have a diagnosis, its not either or. And, stress management is definitely a skill to be developed along with looking at what how we want to contribute to the world. Sometime how we want to contribute may not even be as stressful as we think! my best.

@MichellePradoAparicio

Ай бұрын

Sameeee

Bipolar in of itself is genius, but chaotic because of the super charged brain 🧠 we have. Our lives are not going to run smoothly & that’s ok.

thankyou for this Hakeem, as a bipolar sufferer in the final year of my honours degree I get very frightened when I feel manic as I know at some point im going to go down that dark road under my duvet with my phone switched off, your words have given me inspiration and I intend to use this inspiration to get me through the tough times XXX stay smiling xxx

@HakeemRahim

9 жыл бұрын

Karen, thank you for sharing! It is tough learning to manage our moods and balance the ebbs and flows together with life's demands. However, first knowing that we all have cycles, moods disorder, or not, and then to learning how to cope with these dips and peak to stay in a productive zone is the real work. Onward and best wishes!

I have Bipolar Type I and am highly intelligent. I also have 5 other mental disorders as well. I get what you are saying about when in the depression mode, realizing it will pass. I experience Bipolar Depression as well as Depressive disorder and can tell the difference between them. The Bipolar version of it makes me feel numb, everything in my being is being pulled down. It comes on in an instant, and isn't due to my life situation. I tag that depression as Bipolar and realize it will just take time for it to pass.

I think I have bipolar like 70 % sure