By Surakshya Kiju | Featured Contributor
Love. The point of it all. The reason for it all.
We find purpose in love. We give meaning to our lives through love. Love is arguably the strongest emotion we human beings feel, be it for our family, our friends, or our soulmate. We pursue love all our lives. All we want in the end is to be able to love and to be loved. We go to great lengths to find love. We let love define us.
By Brandon Koebernik | Featured Contributor
Mom was schizophrenic.
Dad was bipolar.
What could I get from it?
I found out as I got older.
It started when I joined the military,
Army National Guard.
I don’t believe I was wary,
Of how things could get so hard.
A lot of time had passed.
I started noticing changes,
To the point where I wore a mask,
To hide all of the passing phases.
By Brandon Koebernik | Featured Contributor
There’s a stigma when it comes to seeking help for mental issues. After 6 years in the military, I would have never dared to bring up an issue I was having. The fear of judgment or of appearing “weak” amongst my peers was incredibly debilitating in an of itself. I played it off; fake smile every now and then, pretending I was “normal”. I was emotionally withdrawn and apathetic towards life.
Continue reading “Crushing the Stigma: Living with Bipolar Disorder”
By Jeremiah Lin | Featured Contributor
I suffer from bipolar. Of the worst kind. Manic episodes. Severe psychosis. Deep delusions fully believing that I’m Jesus.
I will destroy my relationships. Make random connections with strangers. Come up with a million business plans to make a billion dollars. Empty my bank account and max out credit cards to “help” others. Give away all my earthly possessions. Isn’t that what Jesus would do?
I’ve made myself homeless. I’ve ended up in numerous mental hospitals. Had far too many run-ins with police officers. Most people, including cops, don’t understand the symptoms of mania. That makes me a perceived threat. Dozens of arrests. Spent several years of my life behind bars. Several times I’ve been brutalized by law enforcement. This last time nearly cost my life.
Continue reading “This Is Who I Am: A Glimpse into Jeremiah’s Story”
![Living [a poem]](https://i0.wp.com/healthinspiration.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nature-poem.jpg?fit=1000%2C631&ssl=1&resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
