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The Bipolar Burble doesn’t sell anything, not to people with a mental illness, or anyone else.
It will one day. One day soon it will be selling my book. And then another book after that. We writers do stuff like that.
And maybe one day there will be ads here trying to sell you other things too – therapeutic lights or omega-3 supplements for mood.
But one thing I do not now, nor will I ever sell:
I will never, ever try to sell you hope, true or otherwise. Hope is free and selling it is a lie.
I’ve written about “knowing” how to cure bipolar disorder before. Anyone claiming to know how to cure bipolar disorder, or any mental illness, is a charlatan. True, I could be more politically correct for you, and just say they’re ignorant, but really, I don’t feel like giving them the benefit of the doubt. The science on the matter is just too overwhelming. You cannot cure bipolar. You cannot cure mental illness. Sorry. You just can’t.
And when someone claims to have the magic answer to mental illness, and when they try to sell you magic beans is sell you hope.
They see that you are hopeless. They see that you have tried every mental health treatment. They see you have tried every bipolar medication. They see that you are at the end of your rope with doctors and psychiatrists and therapists and psychologists. So they prey on you. They prey on the fact you feel hopeless. They sell you hope. They sell you hope wrapped in pills or gurus or herbs or diets, but really it’s hope that they’re selling.
And unfortunately, hopeless people are easy marks, and hopeless people are buying.
But you can’t buy hope. Not really. Those snake oil salespeople claiming to sell you hope, an answer, a cure and are actually selling you lies.
You already have hope. I know this because your eyes are open and you are reading this. You have all the hope you need just by turning on the computer. You have all the hope you need just by taking one step in front of the other. You have hope. You don’t have to try to buy it.
I know. I have felt it. Many times. I know desperation better than the back of my own psyche.
And if you need a little more hope for mental illness treatment?
Try looking into the eyes of your child. Listen to the meow of your cat. Look at the brushstrokes of art. Feel the wind at the beach. These things are alive. So are you. These things offer real hope.
And if it helps, look at those who have come before you. Look at those with mental illness who have died of old age. Look at those who have made incontrovertible contributions to society.
We all have to buy into mental health treatment or we would try it. I know that. A doctor has to convince you a medication has a reasonable chance of working. A therapist has to convince you that doing the work of therapy can help your psyche.
This is true.
But these people aren’t selling you hope. These people are offering hope. These people are giving it to you for free. And their hope is real. Not because they have a degree, but because they tell you right up front it might not work. They tell you treating mental illness is hard. They tell you there is no cure for mental illness. They back up what they say with science. These people are offering quality treatment with a side of hope, and not hope wrapped in the wool of piecrust promises.
[push]As soon as someone tries to sell you hope, run the other way. Because really what they are selling are lies.[/push]
And I offer hope. Not on purpose. There isn’t a buffet of hope held at a Ramada near you. People find hope through the truth of my words. I offer honesty and people find hope. For free. Real hope. Hope from someone who doesn’t want anything from you.
So I don’t care what the salespeople say. There is no curing bipolar disorder and there is no buying hope.
Some of you might have notice my references to True Hope. That is the company that makes a product called EMPowerPlus which makes outlandish (lies) claims about treating mental illness. PsychCentral has an excellent article explaining why I don’t like them so much.
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
Shopping for someone with a mental illness can feel tricky—you want a gift that actually helps, not just more clutter. This guide walks you through 15 thoughtful, low-pressure mental health gifts that offer real comfort, reduce stress, and say, “I see you and I’m here,” during the holidays and all year.
I’m never going to call bipolar pain a “gift.” Most days, I just want it to stop. But emotional and even physical pain aren’t always random torture—they’re often trying to tell us something. This piece digs into what your pain might be saying, how to listen, and how that can make living with it just a little easier.
After 24 of 30 TMS sessions with no meaningful improvement, I wrote the guide I needed: why failed treatment hurts, how to get through the next 72 hours, and what to ask your clinician now.
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You are wrong on so many-myfamily left me I don’t want to be in this world it all. I pry for death every day.
Ms. Tracy,
You may be interested in looking into the work and success of Dr. Abram Hoffer. He has documented countless cases whereby those suffering from the overt symptoms and behaviors which bring on the diagnosis of mental illness. Dr. Abram Hoffer has established that indeed, mental illness is treatable, and this illness can be “cured.”
Also Dr. Andrew Saul may be of interest to you, as he has a vast array of vital information on how many diseases, including mental illness respond to orthomolecular methods of treatment. Best of success as you evolve.
Sally L. Rubis
Accepting Odd Bipolar Treatments – Whatever Gets You Through the Night
And you contradict yourself!! You may want to stay on the bipolar merry-go-round because it now defines who you are……..but other people don’t!! All you’ve done in the above blog is create more hopelessness for those that are already struggling with that problem.
Natasha -you clearly have NOT done your research -you have…..like so many other people out there spat your opion out into the public arena with out so much as a hint of knowledge on the subject!! The True Hope program does not once declare a cure for bipolar, in fact when you start the program they make you very aware of the commitment it will take on a wholistic level to deal with this illness that destroyes so many peoples lives, including the supporting partners and families. They are NOT selling hope……they are selling a micronutirent that is proving more and more to assist people with dealing with their illness with MUCH better results than drugs. Young children are given an opportunity to live a semi normal life with this nutrient……….would you prefer them to be drugged to the eye balls and sent away to an instituition rather than be given the opportuinity to try a product that may change the course of their life for ever. The guy who killed that womens brother was never given that opportunity and look how life turned out for him as a adult……….It discusts me that people like you are quick to jump on the band wagon so you look good in the public eye but clearly disengage in what is actually happening in the world……………..drug companies are killing us and people like you spur them on. People on psychotrophic drugs are commiting murder, rape, suicide and all sorts of other crimes on a continual basis……and phyciatrist are still prescribing more and more of these drugs each year -the drug companies are making a phemominal amount of money each year at the cost of our health and wellbeing ………………and you are out to crucify a company that is working really hard to make a difference in the quality of peoples lives. I believe in freedom of speech but people like you should shut your mouth if you are unwilling to get the facts -you make me sick!
Thank you Natasha.
My schizophrenic nephew murdered my brother in cold blood. My sister-in-law was lured into the Truehope web and was convinced that vitamins alone would make my nephew well. She was a very easy mark for that company. Thank you for your blog.
Hi LeeAnn,
That’s horrific and I’m so sorry to hear it. It’s one of my worst fears – someone with a serious illness decides that vitamins will “cure” them and so they stop actual treatment and something terrible happens.
Thank-you for sharing your story.
– Natasha Tracy
I think what psychiatry does is precisely to sell people hope. As far as I know psych meds are not free, far from it. It’s a huge industry. If that’s not selling hope I don’t know what is…psychiatrists tell people that they can’t be cured, but can be made better. And so people find this believable, and then spend years trying to find “the right combination of meds” and it becomes their holy grail. If only they could find this holy grail, then everything could be so much better! And so they go on buying hope. Oh, and about the science behind it, I think your so-called scientists are very corrupt: http://www.tufts.edu/~skrimsky/PDF/DSM%20COI.PDF
Hi Eva,
In my opinion there is a major difference between offering someone realistic hope and selling them false hope. Me, a random person with a secret system, saying that I can “cure” you is selling false hope. Period.
Doctors offering hope because they have scientifically proven treatments, is not the same thing. And no, medicine isn’t free. Nothing is. Just because an oncologist charges a whole lot (more than psych meds) for chemotherapy, doesn’t make him wrong or a seller of anything immoral. Someone has to pay for medication.
And yes, many people do have trouble finding the right meds, no argument here, but many people do not. Many people are helped by the _first_ med they try. Many people try a med and then get off of it after a period of time. That would be your garden variety depression patient. But we don’t hear from them as a general rule _because_they’re_better_ and they’re out living their lives and not posting on the internet about their past illness.
– Natasha Tracy
Yes, yes and a thousand yes-es! Hope is not a commodity. A sustainable, renewable commodity. And it is not the same as wishful thinking. Hope spurs us on and gives us courage to act.
Love your passion and your insights. You give hope to others because you’re side by side in the battle. Thanks for all you’re doing to spread hope.
Hi Hope,
Thanks. I agree, it’s a renewable resource even if it is difficult to renew now and then.
– Natasha Tracy
Dear Natasha
This is such a FANTASTIC blog post. Thank YOU…
HOPE is priceless
YOU are real, YOU provide hope and inspiration, YOU are a gift for mental illness awareness
Thank YOU
Natasha
Hugs & Love
Lee xoxoxox
Thank-you Lee. You are far too kind.
I’m glad I can contribute to the hope now and then.
– Natasha Tracy
You are welcome… Now and then??? How I see it, is your are consistently providing hope and inspiration xoxox
Such generosity Lee, thank-you.
– Natasha Tracy
You made a lot of good points. I have fallen prey many of times to those who offered immediate relief to my suffering. I was in that much pain. But I say to all of us who suffer that the hope, truth and determination is always in us.
Hi Kewanna,
“I have fallen prey many of times to those who offered immediate relief to my suffering. I was in that much pain.”
Me too. It angers me. People shouldn’t be in that much pain and people shouldn’t take advantage of those who are. (But yes, I know it’s not a fluffy bunny world out there.)
“… hope, truth and determination is always in us.”
Absolutely. My point exactly. Well said.
– Natasha Tracy
wonderful article
As always, a lovely and passionate writing from a lovely and passionate woman. I always smile when I get a notification of something new from you!
Oh, and I agree. Hope is too damn expensive to put a price tag on, and it drives me bonkers that there are those out there who will prey on those whose supply is running low. Love the word choice there, btw.
Hi Lynoth,
You are too kind. Thank-you.
“Hope is too damn expensive to put a price tag on, and it drives me bonkers that there are those out there who will prey on those whose supply is running low.”
Well said. Bonkers indeed. And that’s the nice way of saying it.
Yes, word choice is everything :)
– Natasha
I once got pills from TruHope, called Serenity. Absolute rubbish. Expensive too.
Oh yes, they are expensive. Hope usually is.
– Natasha Tracy
Excellent and well balanced article Natasha that I enjoyed very much. Thanks for sharing and for the time you took into putting this together. Well done!
Thanks Elizabeth.
– Natasha