I’m Nori Rose Hubert, and I’m so excited to contribute to the "Work and Bipolar or Depression" blog at HealthyPlace. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type II in May 2019 at age 26, after a lifetime of struggling with my mental health. Although our culture’s attitude towards mental illness is slowly changing for the better, mood disorders such as bipolar disorder remain highly stigmatized. I write about bipolar because I want others living with this disease to know they are not alone and that mental illness recovery is possible.

I’m Natalie Cawthorne, and I’m so happy to join the 'Work and Bipolar or Depression' blog at HealthyPlace. When I was 16, I was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inattentive type, and got used to assuming that any mental health issues I faced must be related to that; and with bipolar and ADHD sharing so many overlapping traits, I think it was even easier to miss that I actually have bipolar disorder type II as well -- I was diagnosed earlier this year. 

My name is Virginia Boyles and I am one of the authors of the Work and Bipolar or Depression blog on HealthyPlace. I was first diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety disorder when I was 16 years old in 2007. My struggle with mental illness has inspired me to help others with similar experiences empower themselves to make healthy choices. I believe that the more open we are about our struggles with mental health, the less mental illness stigma we face, and therefore, the more we have the social support we need to thrive.

Work and Bipolar or Depression blog is about having Bipolar Disorder or Depression and being in business or working in a business. Peter Zawistowski (Peter Z) hopes to offer meaningful hints, tricks and help for those individuals who are reentering the workforce or just trying to keep the “work thing” going. Peter has owned several small businesses and has also worked for various employers in the high-tech area.