I was in the depths of bipolar depression when I realized I needed extra support. It was 2013, shortly after my father had passed away and I had gotten married. I was grieving, and while my wedding was a happy day, it was a lot all at once and I was overwhelmed. I was seeing a therapist regularly for what my psychiatrist thought was an anxiety disorder. But when I became hypomanic from antidepressants, we knew I must have been experiencing bipolar disorder instead. I should have known, as it runs in my family.
My psychiatrist attempted to stabilize me from hypomania on mood stabilizers, and unfortunately, the medications sent me into a deep, debilitating depression. While I had bipolar disorder in my family, and thankfully grew up in a mental health-positive environment, I didn’t know much about bipolar disorder, and I felt like I was suffering alone in my mind.
It was then that a quick Google search brought me to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s website. There I learned more about my condition, symptoms, risk factors, and most importantly, ways to treat and manage my bipolar disorder. It was learning about DBSA’s peer support groups that gave me hope and made me realize I was not alone, my suffering was not an anomaly, and there was support out there for me.
Thankfully, I came out the other side of my bipolar hypomania and depression. I’m on effective medication now, I have a solid talk therapist and psychiatrist, and I know I can always turn to DBSA for resources and the latest education. And the full circle part of the story is: I am now the new Senior Director of Development at DBSA, overseeing the organization’s fundraising department. I feel so grateful that I now get to help other people in the ways DBSA helped me when I was really struggling.
I hope my story gives you hope in the same way it does for me, and I ask you to consider making a tax deductible gift by December 31st to help more people like me get critical peer support and education from DBSA. Because as diagnoses of mood disorders are on the rise, this work is more important than ever.
On behalf of the team at DBSA, thank you for your dedication to providing hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders like me. I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and inspiring new year.
With gratitude,
Betsy Rubinstein
Senior Director of Development, DBSA
