Since leaving the ring AJ Mendez, fka AJ Lee, has been working to reduce the stigma against mental illness.
Her latest work appears in Bustle as an op-ed where she opens up about how she deals with depressive episodes brought on by her bipolar disorder.
Most people know Bipolar Disorder by name, but I’m often asked about the actual symptoms. I wrote this article for @bustle to shed a little light on my personal experience. https://t.co/IxjA2VfQTB
— AJ (@TheAJMendez) July 9, 2018
She writes: “It’s been about a decade since I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder — bipolar II to be exact — a type of mental illness characterized by cycling between mania and depression. And yet the arrival of a cycle still manages to catch me off guard. The sudden onset of a new depressive cycle forces me to scramble into what I call “survival mode.” It’s a state of mind I use to protect myself, to disassociate from the negative energy trying to consume me. While using breathing techniques, I imagine I am somewhere else, somewhere quiet. I constantly repeat to myself, “Survive today. Tomorrow will be different.”….the one thing a depressive cycle cannot distort is my hope for tomorrow.”
Read the heartfelt essay here.
She’s currently working on numerous projects including turning her book into a TV show and advocating for better mental health awareness.
What do you think of her article? Sound off in the comments below.
