Amanda
Amanda
Sometimes we have to live moment by moment
When Amanda was 19, she knew the grip of anxiety and panic attacks—she’d been living with both for years. But something new was unfolding. She felt overwhelmed and out of control. Despite running eight miles a day, her body was wired. Sleep became impossible. She turned to sleeping pills and alcohol just to get by.
I just couldn’t imagine staying on Earth.
What Amanda was experiencing would eventually be diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The emotional turbulence was unlike anything she’d faced before. But over time—and with treatment—she began to understand what was happening. For more than 20 years now, she has navigated the complex terrain of bipolar disorder with honesty, resilience, and creative expression.
Out of her lived experience, Amanda founded a journaling company to share the healing power of writing with others facing similar struggles.
When words wouldn’t form in conversation—especially with my mother—my journal became my voice.
Later, she discovered painting. What started as a creative outlet quickly became a vital coping tool. Her canvases—rich in color and emotion—offered a way to express what she couldn’t always say out loud. For Amanda, art became a way to externalize inner chaos and find peace.
I deeply believe that creativity is medicine, especially when shared with others.
That belief fuels Amanda’s passion for creating community spaces where people can make art together. In those moments of shared creativity, individuals often realize they’re not alone—and that simple connection can be profoundly healing.
Amanda speaks of her family with warmth, describing them as loving and supportive. But she’s also candid about their shared vulnerability to substance use and bipolar disorder.
Her maternal grandfather died by suicide while struggling with his own mental health. Years later, Amanda received his journals—filled with raw, vulnerable reflections. One entry in particular—a quiet plea for help—echoed her own experience of turning to writing in moments of despair.
Today, Amanda stands in a different place. With the help of medication and therapy—tools she credits with not just improving her life, but saving it—she’s found stability. She is deeply grateful for her family’s honesty, presence, and unwavering support.
The challenges haven’t disappeared, but they no longer consume her. She’s learned how to care for herself and, as she says, “ride the waves of my beautiful bipolar brain.”
Through her organization, Amanda helps others find that same sense of release and connection. Her work is both healing and honoring—a way of carrying forward her grandfather’s memory and transforming pain into purpose.
To those walking similar paths, Amanda offers this heartfelt wisdom:
Life is not always day by day—sometimes we have to live moment by moment. Bipolar is a challenging condition to battle, but you are a warrior and have to keep going.
Some moments will be harder than others, but by gaining self-awareness, the strength to talk about bipolar disorder, and learning to communicate what being bipolar looks like for us individually, we truly can break the stigma surrounding it. Keep going.
