Mommy, Wife, Nurse Practitioner, Stigma Buster

Raise your hand to be accounted for. #FearlessFriday #bipolardisorder #mentallillnessawareness #neverstopfightingforyou

One foot forward at a time to make a difference. #keepbreathingcampaign

Pretty excited for @keithroselle and I show off our selfies tomorrow from @keepbreathingcampaign's awesome t-shirts that arrived today. We have a 5:15 am photo shoot planned in Keith's studio! Stay tuned... #keepbreathingcampaign #keithrosellephotography #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder #nostigma #arttherapy #lifeisyourgreatestmasterpiece

With #worldbipolarday2016 this week and my husbands essay being shared again, many scars by many, many brave souls have been opened to show others they aren't alone. #FearlessFriday

Civics lesson number 1: "if you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito". Liam, happy after his first presidential campaign canvassing yesterday. #bernie2016 #feelthebern #bernieforpresident #bernieforthepeople #bernieinct #berniesanders #berniesanders2016 #stillsanders #futuretobelievein #littlepolitico #littleberner

I love this quote. It might be talking about sex workers, but it's equally applicable to the topic of mental illness. Why are celebrities allowed to speak for me? Why is a twenty-something like Demi Lovato representing MY voice? How is a celebrity the mental illness "poster child"? I can't relate to a person with managers, assistants, housekeepers, trainers, nutritionists, insurance AND the finances to pay out of pocket if a provider doesn't take insurance. It's not a realistic picture to the average individual who struggles with their disease. Who is challenged to find treatment. Who needs a better medication regimen. Who can't get hospitalized when they need to be stabilized due not meeting criteria. Who can't get care for lack of insurance and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. Who is homeless and their family doesn't know where they are; worried sick about them. Why is the celebrity on a pedestal so wise and all-knowing above the rest of us? I want more every-day hero stories about mental illness. We are surrounded by tales of my brothers and sisters in arms who go unnoticed and ignored every day and are FAR more brave than I am or these celebrities are. #annrants #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder #stopcelebrityspokepeople #realpeoplerealstories #educate #hr2646

Learn. Be educated. Educate. Advocate. Be a voice. #FearlessFriday #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder

Learn. Be educated. Educate. Advocate. Be a voice. #FearlessFriday #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder

Your Public Service Announcement for the day. #PSA #mentallillnessawareness #languageispower #FearlessFriday

Wiser words never were spoken. #FearlessFriday #thereisalwayshope

#truethat #FearlessFriday #dealingwithmydisease #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder #youvegotthis #idecidehowmystorygoes

What was your bravest decision ever? #brave #FearlessFriday #bipolar #mentallillnessawareness #iamme #livingauthentic

Happy Hump Day! #medicatedandmighty

#FearlessFriday

Someone said to me "I know what I am" in reference and I thought to myself "what does that even mean?" because to me, I am not an illness. I'm a person. But you know what? For almost two years post diagnosis, I lived in that head space, that I'm such a bipolar head space. And it's such an insidious place to be. Come be human and #fearless today with and celebrate just being. #FearlessFriday #mentallillnessawareness #bipolardisorder

You are not your illness. You are awesome #FearlessFriday #mentallillnessawareness

Be the square peg in the round hole. #itsfine #embraceit #FearlessFriday