Author: Katie

  • 25 Classic Christmas Movies That Will Make You Happy

    25 Classic Christmas Movies That Will Make You Happy

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    I think I ought to make this a blog post because…well, why not? For my personal taste and collection of holiday hits, I have compiled a list (with the help of my friends on Facebook) of my 25 favorite Christmas movies. So, without further adieu, I give you:   25…

  • Lessons Learned Working With Mental Illness

    Lessons Learned Working With Mental Illness

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    Almost exactly a year ago I started a chapter in life that opened the door to the world of casework. I began my first professional job as a caseworker for a non-profit behavioral health agency. I have learned some powerful lessons over the past year and I wanted to share…

  • 5 Go-To Resources For Christians with Mental Illness

    5 Go-To Resources For Christians with Mental Illness

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    Good resources for Christians with mental illness are few and far between. For many, mental health conditions are unmanageable through prayer and Bible verses alone. Symptoms of a mood disorder may keep you from functioning effectively during the day. There is still reluctance in the church to seek out professional…

  • Missing The Mark: When Finding The Right Diagnosis and Medication Isn’t The Answer

    Missing The Mark: When Finding The Right Diagnosis and Medication Isn’t The Answer

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    True Healing Is Wholistic Ultimately, our brains are just another organ and cannot be transformed simply by adding a certain medication. No, we’re much more complex beings than that. We are made up of mind, body, heart and soul. The mind is chemically-based and cognitively-functioning, processing information and the physical…

  • What Most People Misunderstand About Mental Illness

    What Most People Misunderstand About Mental Illness

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    “Popular” to Have Mental Illness? When I tell someone upon initially meeting them that I’m bipolar, and they jump to identify themselves as bipolar as well, I take it with a grain of salt. This is not to say they aren’t bipolar, they very well could be. But most people…

  • 10 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Your Mental Health

    10 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Your Mental Health

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    The benefits of taking care of our minds may seem inherent to taking care of your overall health, but there is still a resistance to taking the steps to improved mental care. Allow me to review ten sound reasons why you should invest the time, energy and resources into your…

  • Brandon Appelhans Guest Posts: “Identity & Mental Health”

    Brandon Appelhans Guest Posts: “Identity & Mental Health”

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    Brandon reached out to me recently and is a mutual friend of Pastor Brad Hoefs. After researching his website, MyQuietCave.org, I invited Brandon to guest post for us here at BipolarBrave.com. I hope his story is encouraging to you and reminds you where your true identity comes from.  Yesterday I…

  • Deep Calls To Deep: A Poem

    Deep Calls To Deep: A Poem

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    Context As I was praying over our nation’s epidemic of suicide rates growing and pandemic of abortions, I remembered the words of Psalm 42:7, “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.” I penned this poem so to encourage fellow brothers and…

  • Psychotherapy vs. Christianity: The Case for True Transformation (Part II)

    Psychotherapy vs. Christianity: The Case for True Transformation (Part II)

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    A Matter of The Heart In the former half of my argument, I explored the definition of moral relativity and how the admission and recognition of Truth is necessary for authentic and good life-giving change and transformation. In this post, I explore the case for the heart being untrustworthy and…

  • Advocate Angela McDonald Guest Posts: “Being Faithful To Someone With Mental Illness”

    Advocate Angela McDonald Guest Posts: “Being Faithful To Someone With Mental Illness”

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    Ignorance Isn’t Bliss Those in the church who know of my bipolar disorder have never sat down and asked me how I am…and I am angry about it. Am I handling my mood swings okay? Am I managing my symptoms? How is my family handling all of it?… No one…