For the first time in my life, ketamine therapy gave me a glimpse of real stability. After years of masking bipolar II, ADHD, and treatment-resistant depression with whatever I could find just to survive, I’m finally beginning to understand the beasts that have been living inside me all along.

A mental health diagnosis can feel like a punch to your self-esteem, but it doesn’t define your worth. Here’s how I learned to separate my identity from bipolar, ADHD, and depression — and the practical tools that help me move forward with grit, clarity, and compassion.