Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Hello.
My Name is Cary Shawn Brandes and I am a 51 year old on a Mental Health Journey with my BiPolar 2 friend.

Here is my story.

You may know me as someone who can be intense, loves to laugh, seems to be an extrovert and never gives in.

But do you want to know a Secret?

I have been hiding behind a mask for many decades and it has been and continues to be a very exhausting adventure.

Only recently have I come to terms with who I am and am able to share with you in full transparency what I have and continue to go through as my Big Brain likes to take control and steer me in interesting new directions.

Being BiPolar brings with it many side effects such as the following top ones for me:
Distinct periods of elevated and depressed moods.
Rapid speech; to which haunts me on occasion an I may seem incompressible. (and thank you to my team who have helped me in the past with this).
Horrible Anxiety.
Racing thoughts.
Fatigue which happens quite often.

👉 Some days are not easy and I do not want to get out of bed.
👉🏻 Some days I question everything that I see and the purpose of life.
👉🏼 Some days I can’t eat certains foods as for some reason they have magically changed their taste.
👉🏽 Some days I have the energy of a Rabbit and I try to bottle those days. I love these days.

🤔 Did you know that between 20% and 60% of people living with BiPolar will attempt Suicide at one point in their lives. That’s a possible 6 out of 10 people who will attempt to take their lives.

But first of all,

👉 I thank Mosaic and Google for allowing me to be me.
👉🏻 I thank those who respect me for who I am but sometimes question the picture I am painting 🤣.
👉🏽 I thank those that just let me talk….you know who you are 😃.
👉🏿 I thank my wife Michelle and daughters Samantha and Jessica for their understanding.

… and yes it can be controlled with medication but that can take 10+ years to find the proper mix.

I was only properly diagnosed as being BIPolar 2 seven years ago.

👉 Yes, I am seeing a Psychiatrist who is on call whenever I need her. She has been an amazing corner stone to my life.
👉🏻 Yes, I have made mistakes in the past due to Rapid Cycling.

Rapid Cycling is not fun as just think of it as it brings your Brain on a Roller Coaster and you have no control over the Manic highs and low.

🤔 Did you know that I got the majority of my arm tattoo’s in less than 6 weeks during a Manic Episode?

👉🏽 Yes, It is not easy on my family or Michelle my wife of 23 years. And I love her even more every day for what I sometimes put her through.

So why am I exposing myself to you during this very important time of the Bell Let’s Talk day?

Simple.

I am hoping that if you see someone who may be struggling, all you need to do is ask; Are You Ok? This will open up the door to a conversation, and that is a starting point.
And if you are struggling as a well, please;

👊 Remember that sharing your Mental Health story with others is actually showing that you are strong and are built like a 🐂 Bull….please realize this.
👊🏼 Remember that you are not an expert on this subject but there is help.
👊🏾 Remember that there are resources across Canada that can help, such as:

• 9-1-1
• Talk Suicide Canada: 1.833.456.4566 | Quebec: 1.866.277.3533
• Suicide.ca
• Kids Help Phone: 1.800.668.6868 or text CONNECT (686868)
• Canada Mental Health Support WebSite: Click Me.

So where am I at with my Journey?

⭐️ I have learned to say I am not ok when someone asks.
⭐️ I have learned to accept that I have an illness just like any other disease out there (thank you to my sister for opening my mind to that.)
⭐️ I have learned that I am not Superman.

… and I have learned to not be ashamed of who I am and accept that I have been given a Special Gift and I am part of an Exclusive Club.

To read and learn more about my Mental Health Journey and to help others,
🙏🙏🏻🙏🏼 please take a Look and Share (with your Family, Friends and Peers) my blog that follows
my Mental Health Journey: 👉👉🏻👉🏼 http://www.RenegadeBPMind.Blog

🙏🙏🏽🙏🏼 𝗣𝘀: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 ☕ 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗠𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Have a PHENOMENAL 🤩 Day.
Cary Shawn Brandes