Blog Posts
It’s World Mental Health Day: What Does that Mean?
I learned this morning that today is Mental Health Day. What does that mean? Is this another Hallmark opportunity to sell stuff? If today is Mental Health Day does that mean the other 364 are not? Like February being Black history month implying that the other 11...
Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Test
Created by Dr. Ron Pies and Dr. Jim Phelps It took 25 years and 5 psychiatrists for me to finally get the diagnosis that savedmy life: I have a bipolar II brain on the bipolar spectrum. The doctor whodiagnosed me correctly was dedicated to understanding the complexity...
Blessings within the Brainstorm: Gratitude, Discipline, and Compassion
I’ve recently completed a memoir called BrainStorm: My Journey from Brutality to Blessing with Bipolar II. As I was putting the finishing touches on the manuscript, I found myself in doubt. Was it really safe to “come out” of the Bipolar closet, shout my truth, risk...
Brain Buddy Defense Plan for Mental Health Challenges
In his December 2020 column, “The Hidden Fourth Wave of the Pandemic,” New York Times Columnist Farhad Manjoo wrote about the stress impacts of COVID-19. “America hasn’t begun to face this year’s mental health crisis,” Manjoo wrote. I believe he’s right and by the...
Living with Bipolar II in a COVID-19 World
At first glance, when you meet me, you’re likely to think I have a #bestlife, primed and ready for Instagram stories. You'll find a successful business sustainability consultant, women’s empowerment leader, and Shadow Work coach. Since 1993, I’ve led large systems...
Personal Narratives of Mental Health Resilience
I have an article out, Your Unique and Beautiful Brain, in the Johns Hopkins publication on personal narratives of mental health resilience: VOICES. There I talk about my journey with mental health and bipolar II. You can read my contribution along many others...
Mental Health Deserts
What are mental health deserts? You’re probably familiar with the concept of food deserts right? Large swaths of the country where it is impossible to find healthy, affordable, produce for example. The corollary impact on people’s health – obesity, diabetes, heart...
I'm thrilled that my new memoir is published. You can listen to the introductions to the audiobook here:
Gratitude
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. Here’s what it’s like for those of us on the bipolar spectrum. Imagine you wake up every day with an excruciating, immobilizing headache. Your limbs are...
Emotional Fearlessness
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. Because you are fluid with the darkness, you can be fully present with other people’s fears. There is no place their fears can take you that you have not...
I’m bipolar II and a Better Person Because of It
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. My best friends and my family know about my bipolar brain, but being bipolar II is not something that usually comes up in cocktail conversation. I fret...
The Soloist
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. Joe and I had heard that the film The Soloist had stellar performances by Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr., and since we had the rare treat of a Saturday...