Victoria Maxwell

British Columbia

Mental Health Writer and Blogger at Psychology Today

Awarding Winning #MentalHealth Leader | Speaker | Performer | [email protected] | Blogger: https://t.co/Dr1cDizDzy #Memoir in progress

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Articles

Why Am I Still Depressed? I’m on Meds

1 month ago | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Claudia Wolff / UnsplashI was still struggling with depression, but I was taking my medications. This is as good as it gets. Right? Maybe not. Anyone who has bipolar disorder, or any mental illness for that matter, can tell you the road to wellness is more than a little bumpy. Setbacks are part of the process. Acceptance is an essential ingredient. Early on in my recovery journey, I was prescribed medication.
Do This to Build a Life Beyond Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder

Dec 30, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Zac Durant / UnsplashIn 24 years of managing bipolar disorder 1 with psychosis, anxiety, disordered eating, and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I’ve learned strategies to live well while living with them. Symptoms still rise from time to time but never with the same ferocity or duration they did in the early days. For those of you reading this who are struggling or who might be at the beginning of your journey or who are searching for solutions—it can get better.
Try This When Perfectionism Rears Its Perfectly Ugly Head

Dec 29, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Mick Haupt / UnsplashWhen I’m depressed, perfectionism rears its perfectly ugly head. Because I can never do things perfectly, this can result avoiding responsibilities. In turn, it makes me feel bad about myself even more, further fuelling my depression. It’s a negative feedback loop that perpetuates itself, perfectly. Can any of you relate?
When Mom and Daughter Both Have Bipolar Disorder

Sep 28, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Catalin Pop / UnsplashWhen I was a teenager I blamed my parents for a lot of things: my big ears, my geeky high school reputation, and my lack of fashion sense to name a few. But my mental illness wasn’t one of them. Over five years, beginning when I was 26, I had four psychotic episodes, three landing me in the psych ward, and all alternating with depression and mania.
Do You Know These 5 Unconventional Tools to Reduce Anxiety?

Jun 8, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Johnathan Larson / UnsplashI was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder. On the whole, I live symptom-free. I’m extremely lucky. But chronic mental illness is, well, chronic, and my symptoms come back and rear their heads from time to time. To remain well, I consistently do certain things every day.
Zooming Out Can Ease Anxiety and Depression

Mar 31, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Alexei Scutari/UnsplashFor the past four weeks, I was in a low-grade depression, up until this past Tuesday. I’m out on the other side now. Hallelujah.
Are You a Bipolar Rocking Chair or Bipolar Swivel Chair?

Mar 25, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Danni Marroquin/UnsplashAre you a rocking chair or swivel chair? Play along with me. Imagine you’re a chair. But what kind of chair? You need to know because it determines what you can and cannot do. No one chair is better than the other. They’re just different, with different abilities. This rocking versus swivel metaphor has helped me to be gentle with myself and realize I’m not broken just because I can’t do certain things due to the bipolar disorder and anxiety I live with.
Ask This Question to Reduce Your Anxiety and Depression

Mar 10, 2024 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Jon Tyson/UnsplashI have feelings about my feelings. When I get anxious, I start to feel anxious about my anxiety; when I start to feel depressed, I get more depressed about being depressed. And when I start to feel those feelings, I get more anxious and I manically scramble to fix it, which only worsens the whole situation. What I've discovered is that self-care and self-soothing all are good and fine to calm and support myself. But there's a missing element that I was overlooking.
The Silence Surrounding Mental Illness at Work

Dec 23, 2023 | psychologytoday.com | Victoria Maxwell

Source: Jiangxulei /UnsplashIn the fast-paced world of modern careers, the intersection of mental health and professional life is an ongoing conversation. The discussion of mental illness in the workplace, however, is not as common. Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Michelle Precourt for her podcast Mindful Mondays. Michelle is Founder and Principal Consultant at Mindful HR Services.
"Crazy for Life" Rules for Writing

Dec 1, 2023 | qoshe.com | Victoria Maxwell

When I wrote my first play "Crazy for Life," I had no idea what I was doing. Seriously. I had acted before but never written a one-person show, particularly one about my own experience living with mental illness. But that was OK. It was OK because I wrote from my truth and from my passion. And when writing has that kind of energy, people are interested. In her book If You Want to Write, Brenda Ueland says: “Everybody is talented, original and has something important to say”.

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Victoria Maxwell @Victoria_BPP

31 Jan 24

RT @CREST_BD: CREST BD’s @Victoria_BPP penned her thoughts on embracing self-forgiveness and compassion after navigating the complex stigma…

Victoria Maxwell @Victoria_BPP

31 Jul 23

This is the 1st time writing about Complex PTSD. It's another layer of the onion that gets uncovered to help me live in the present not in the past. @CREST_BD @CMHA_NTL https://t.co/AYOw8vTZSf PTSD Diagnosis: What a Relief https://t.co/a28mJfdjUO

Victoria Maxwell @Victoria_BPP

27 Jul 23

Ummm…’Y’ wasn’t happy to not be included.