"I was first diagnosed with early psychosis in March 2019, and then in December 2020, I found out I had Bipolar, right in the middle of COVID.

I know some people find it challenging and distressing when they first receive their mental health diagnosis, but for me, it almost felt like a relief to finally get some answers.

I am so lucky to have supportive friends and family, and even when they didn’t understand what I was going through, they always helped me with whatever I was experiencing as best they could. I’m also so grateful to have great Doctors who were amazing at helping point me in the right direction so I could access the support I needed.

After my diagnosis, I started seeing a psychologist, but then I experienced a severe manic episode, and that’s when I was first prescribed medication to help keep my mania and depression at bay.

Now I manage my diagnosis with therapy, medication, and mental wellness. It is important to me to live my best and fullest life, so I promised myself to do anything within my power to stay healthy. My mental well-being is just a part of my life now and is just as important to me as eating healthy and exercising.

I recommend making it a part of your daily routine, so it becomes a habit, whether it is taking your medication, attending appointments, or having structure throughout your day. Now, even when I feel well, I stay connected to my support systems (friends, family, and doctors), I take my medication when I am supposed to, and I maintain a healthy lifestyle. I recently signed up to be a lived experience presenter with Black Dog Institute, and I can’t wait to start sharing my story with others. I feel like I can make a real change to someone who may struggling. It feels great to be a part of something bigger than myself and connect with a community of amazing people."