I just stumbled upon this video for the first time, and am super excited to share it. Ellen Forney talks about her diagnosis of Bipolar disorder, her reluctance to take medication for fear that it may dampen her creativity, and her journey to being both stable and creative.

Since my brain is spinning a little too fast to describe her background, I will encourage you to google her to see all of the creative books she’s written both before and after her diagnosis, including Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life. She created a character she calls SMERDMERTS, and it is her acronym for self-care. SMEDMERTS stands for Sleep, Meds, Eat, Doctor, Mindfulness, Exercise, Routine, Tools, Support System. I love how she brings levity on her journey to helping others seeking stability.

I would love to be able to say that since my diagnosis I have been stable as long as she has, and I came close in my late twenties and early thirties. I would say that I am currently on the beginning of that journey with my new medication regimen, and I am going to dedicate my time to finding a balance with SMEDMERTS. I look forward to learning more about Ellen Forney and her writings and illustrations.