Dear Bipolar Warriors and Supporters,

This August is about reclaiming clarity and compassion. I’m unpacking what people really mean by “chemical imbalance” so we can talk about biology without losing nuance, and I’m naming the quiet ways bipolar turns inward as self-hatred, and how to push back. In the archives, we look at accountability, psychedelics, and telling your feelings apart from symptoms. If you need something practical and honest, you’ll find it here.

📬 What's Inside:

• Feature 1: The Truth About the Chemical Imbalance Theory
• Feature 2: Why It’s So Easy to Hate Yourself When You Have Bipolar Disorder
• From the Archives:
  • Can You Blame Everything on Bipolar Disorder?
  • Do Magic Mushrooms Work to Treat Bipolar?
  • My Emotions from Bipolar Emotions—Which Is Which?
• Instagram Spotlight: Do you "look" bipolar?
• Final Thoughts: Our power to choose
• Your Feedback: Share what you’d like to see next month

Let's dive in!

Feature #1: Why It’s So Easy to Hate Yourself When You Have Bipolar Disorder (and How to Stop)

This piece maps the self-hatred loop with specifics: the signs (like sabotaging relationships or refusing help), the drivers (like shame over symptoms, memories of past mistakes, or feeling like a burden), and concrete ways to interrupt it, such as by thought-labeling, kinder self-talk, reframing, and planning for flare-ups. It’s equal parts validation and tools you can use today.

👉 Read the full article.

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Feature #2: Bipolar Disorder Isn’t a 'Chemical Imbalance': Here’s What the Science Actually Shows

This isn’t a takedown of biology; it’s a takedown of oversimplification and inaccuracy. I trace how the “chemical imbalance” idea took hold, then show where the science really is: differences across brain structure and connectivity, inflammatory signals, circadian disruption, genetics findings, and more — and why none of these equals a single diagnostic test. You’ll leave with language to counter antipsychiatry myths and a practical lens through which to understand a complicated illness.

👉 Read the full article.

From the Archives

Revisit these three thought-provoking articles that cut to the heart of living with bipolar disorder:

• Can You Blame Everything on Bipolar Disorder? — Where’s the line between symptoms and responsibility? This piece explores accountability without shame as well as how to move forward constructively.
  👉 Read the full article.
• Do Magic Mushrooms Work to Treat Bipolar? — I know there's a rush to try psychedelics right now, but before you do, please read this grounded look at what’s known, what’s unknown, and why caution is critical when it comes to psychedelics and bipolar disorder.
  👉 Read the full article.
• Separating My Emotions from Bipolar Emotions — Which Is Which? — Here, I offer practical ways to tell personal feelings from disorder-driven shifts, so you can respond with clarity instead of confusion.
  👉 Read the full article.

• 📚 More from Bipolar Burble
• 💥 My work on HealthyPlace, Breaking Bipolar
• 📝 My articles for Health Union
• 🎥 Videos for bpHope

"'You don’t look bipolar.'

What does that even mean?

Mental illness doesn’t have a look.
It’s not always crisis, chaos, or visible pain.

It can be smiling through symptoms. Holding a job. Laughing with friends.
Or it can be days in bed, fighting thoughts no one else hears.

Bipolar isn’t one thing. And it definitely doesn’t wear a sign."

A Quote & Final Thoughts

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose.”
— Viktor E. Frankl