Finding balance in bipolar | Ellen Forney | TEDxSeattle

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Published 2020-01-24

Ellen Forney is a passionate storyteller and artist who turned her bipolar diagnosis into a platform of hope for anyone struggling with mental health issues. In this moving and generous talk, Ellen uses both words and pictures — her own comics —to share the story of how she maintained her creativity while managing her illness and shares the system she developed for achieving balance and keeping it.

Special thanks to core the TEDxSeattle organizing team, 100+ volunteers, and our generous partners – without you, this experience would not be possible. Find out more about our talks, speakers, entertainers, activities, and year-round events at TEDxSeattle.com.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark in-depth discussion and connection in a community setting. These events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

Ellen is an artist, teacher, and mental health advocate. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me, the story of her diagnosis and struggle with bipolar disorder, and Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life, a guide to maintaining mental health. Rock Steady was featured in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)’s “Best of Graphic Medicine 2018”, and the book’s self-care framework is widely used by therapists and clinicians. Ellen also curated the National Library of Medicine’s traveling exhibition on Graphic Medicine, a new genre of comics about health.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
Ellen Forney is a cartoonist, teacher, and mental health advocate. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me, the story of her diagnosis and struggle with bipolar disorder, and Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life, a guide to maintaining mental health. Marbles has been printed in seven foreign editions and translated into six different languages and was selected as the Common Read for the University of Washington’s Health Sciences schools in 2018. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@Hayu579 3 years ago

It's crazy how I can suddenly shed tears when she said, "I've been stable for 17 years". Like, yo I want that. To all of us who's going through the same thing, or already went through this, we're gonna be okay. We can do this, we're moving and going and we can get through this. Keep moving my dudes and dudettes.. we got this.
@sofiaduvteg7608 1 year ago

I always tear up when she says she's been stable for 17 years. Makes me feel that there IS hope, and that you can learn how to live with this disorder.
@mrsdokwaffle 3 years ago

"when is feeling good a good thing, and when is it a symptom" this perfectly captures what it's like to live with this, I wish I could articulate to my friends and family this well!
@estherherbert-bipolarstrong 5 months ago

So good! I have been bipolar stable for 24 years. Very proud of you Ellen. Keep going and loving who you are. 🎉🥳
@ellenforney9140 3 years ago

Thank you all, soooo much. The books I talk about are: Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me (graphic memoir) and Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life (mental health handbook - SMEDMERTS is in there). In solidarity!
@SuperShaezy1 1 month ago

Who else is reading the comments and listening to the talk at the same time 😁
@DesiranKehendak 4 years ago

She's like the crazy aunt I would like to meet on a holiday. When she put Sleep as #1 coping mechanism, I could not agree more..
@gregdavidson100 2 years ago

Big LOVE to everyone battling a mental illness. Never give up, you've totally got this!
@joseekeetch2818 4 years ago

I love this TedTalk. As someone diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, it is comforting to hear that being stable is possible... but I can't help but think about how much money it costs to get there, especially in the USA. I pray that one day I will be able to afford the luxury to take care of my mental health :)
@victoriaschmidt677 4 years ago

My mom is Bipolar, and she is going through a tremendous manich period. It's been 4 months since she's left home. I wish she could accept her disorder and watch this talk... I hope this day will come soon.
@kimmieann316 3 years ago

Omg I wanted to cry when she said she had been stable 17 years! I want to achieve that! The struggle of bipolar is real. I continue to fight every day.
@ching-hangcheung5953 4 years ago

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2 just over two years ago. Thanks for your vulnerability interlaced with humour and eloquence. I feel less lonely and more encouraged having watched this TEDTalk so thank you for sharing. Your story is inspiring!
@mafiurena3965 3 years ago

17 years stable, how inspiring. I am stuck in a depressive episode and this hit me on the gut. Thank you for representing our illness in such a beautiful way, it made me feel less alone.
@jenniferramsey8850 3 years ago

I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II and this is the most comforting and practical advice I have found so far.
@Kinsey6King 3 years ago

This guy I’ve been dating told me yesterday he was bipolar. He thought it would scare me away. Oh contraire Pierre! Now I want to help and be more supportive.
@ericschmidt6129 1 month ago

Thank you for sharing your story. So encouraging. I was recently diagnosed as Bipolar II at age 64 (my first hypomanic episode). My conditions are nowhere near as severe, but your story helps me understand the bipolar landscape that I must navigate (and I also just finished reading the book, An Unquiet Mind, which your referenced in your talk).
@amypowell7017 2 years ago

Wow 17 years is amazing. Chocked me up when you said "a stable life, a balanced life , feels like me. I want that so bad
@zackd2962 3 years ago

Lamictal is the best medication. It took me from hopeless depression to functioning at a high level. My work life improved my relationship improved. The only side effect is dry mouth. But medicine is not a cure all. It takes positive friends, exercise and nutrition to fight this disease. Don't give up dont let bipolar be a disability let it be our superpower
@kristinalobanov9944 2 years ago

I was diagnosed with bp disorder just a year ago, but it was such a relief to me. All my life people was telling me I was acting “not normal”, especially my grandma. Discovering it made me realize that all the action I was doing it wasn’t really my will. I immediately accepted my mental state and started the therapy with Lamotrigine. After a month I woke up immediately when I heard my alarm, and I was not sleepy. For me it was something insane.. waking up for me was something unreal before. Now, after a year I am stable, even tho I feel some contrasting feelings inside me sometimes. My life changed after being diagnosed, it’s very important to reach a specialist asap if you have this disorder. I lived with it since I was 6 yo, can’t tell how much pain I gave to my family with my actions. Awareness of ourselves is the key to solve any problem
@angelitalesko2757 2 years ago

I cried also when you said you were stable for 17 years. It gives me hope for my daughter. Thank you.