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Featured Poem: Cappuccino Drive-Thru
Welcome to the home of Recovery Through Art by artist Mara McWilliams. If you or someone you love suffers from bipolar disorder or any other mental illness, you may find Mara's work to be specially poignant for you. Mara is in recovery with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and anorexia. Mara's ultimate goal is to educate our society that through proper diagnosis, treatment, therapy, love, support, and understanding, recovery is possible. Please remember, as with any other illness, educating ourselves about our disorder is extremely important.
Mara's two key outlets for artistic expression are through painting and poetry. Mara was introduced to the benefits of art therapy during a hospitalization for her illness. She has found the rewards of creative expression to be beyond her wildest expectations. The freedom and release she finds in painting has been nearly as beneficial to her recovery as therapy.
If you are bipolar and newly diagnosed. Please, take a deep breath and be KIND to yourself. Accepting one has a mental illness is a process, but please remember that there are countless others also diagnosed who will support your travels toward recovery.
If you are a family member or a friend of a bipolar individual, I strongly suggest joining a support group and educating yourself as much as possible about the illness, treatments, and medications.
Please visit my links page to find more bipolar resources. Thank you for visiting our site. We hope you enjoy your visit!
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Dear Freinds!
In a letter read to a gathering of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club on Sunday, Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama reaffirmed his opposition to ballot measures that propose to take away the freedom to marry for lesbian and gay couples, including California's Proposition 8.
This is a tremendous boost to our campaign.
We applaud Barack Obama for his consistent opposition to Proposition 8, the California initiative which would mandate that lesbian and gay couples be treated differently under the California Constitution. We agree with Senator Obama that all people should be treated equally under the law. Senator Obama and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger join millions of Californians who are speaking out against Proposition 8 and standing up in favor of protecting fundamental freedoms.
Please forward this message to all of your friends. Urge them to sign our pledge to Vow to Vote No on Prop 8 today!
Sincerely,
Dale Kelly Bankhead
Campaign Manager
No on 8, Equality For All
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Dear Friends,
Do you want to live in a country that legalizes discrimination? Despite the recent California Supreme Court decision that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, efforts are underway throughout the country to take away rights from same-sex couples.
I just joined thousands of others in showing my support for marriage equality for all. But recently, proponents of bigotry and hate collected even more signatures in an attempt to invalidate the California Supreme Court decision. And they won't stop with California—extremists are even trying to add a same-sex marriage ban to the U.S. Constitution.
We are at a turning point in our nation's history and I'm hoping you'll join me in standing up against discrimination.
Please sign the Million for Marriage petition and get us one name closer to showing that Americans overwhelmingly support marriage equality!
http://www.MillionForMarriage.org
Every committed couple deserves to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities conferred by marriage. Add your name to the petition and be a part of the movement to fight for marriage equality for all.
Thank you!
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Listen to the discussion hosted by Patricia Murphy with guests Dr. Courtney Rennicke and Mara McWilliams at http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/mental-health/bipolar-disorder/webcasts/is-creativity-a-side-effect-of-bipolar-disorder
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Mara will be participating in an interview with Dr. Courtney Rennicke at www.healthtalk.com at 4:00 pm PST on Wednesday, May 28th, Tune in for a discussion on Bipolar Disorder and creativity.
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» Archived News Items
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The key to living successfully with bipolar disorder is realizing how your disorder benefits you. For me, bipolar disorder allows me to tap into my creativity. I suggest you too look at your life and see where your disorder adds something special to your life.... Read More »
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Hundreds of us camped out around San Francisco City Hall in the cold and rain for the opportunity to be issued a marriage license and get legally married, even if the marriage might only be legal for a few days... Read More »
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Lately it seems that the media is airing a lot of dirty laundry about bipolar disorder, without showing the public that many of us are kind, empathetic, in active recovery, and are responsible individuals... Read More »
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We all have found, over the years, that sharing our experiences with those who are or have experienced the same thing is healing and therapeutic for all parties involved.... Read More »
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Education is vital to anyone in the role of offering support to someone suffering from bipolar disorder. This is an informative interview with Shie Rozow, Andy Behrman and Mara McWilliams, three individuals who live with bipolar disorder... Read More »
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» More Articles
Why is it that all men who are outstanding in philosophy, poetry or the arts are melancholic...?"
- Aristotle
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