As some of you know, I had a manic episode in January 2022 and was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type I. A little over a year ago, I was released from the hospital and began the process of reconnecting with reality, my dear friends and family, and eventually my work and hobbies. It was a painstaking path, but being on the other side of it, I am deeply grateful for and in disbelief at how much my life has improved in this relatively short time. There is no greater lesson from this experience than the importance of community. My family, friends, therapists/psychiatrists, and employer were a formidable force that put a large landing pad (spanning from NYC to Paris) underneath me, one that very well could have saved my life. Thank you all so much for everything you did for me.
Although it was disappointing to not fulfill my goal of running the NYC marathon in 2022, I am SO excited to be running this year for an organization that is doing very important work that is close to my heart (and even closer to my head ;)). Many people who suffer from mental illnesses are not blessed with the level of support or access to care that I am fortunate to have, and this is where the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) plays a critical role. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the individuals and families all over America who are fighting or helping others to fight mental illness. Your donations will go straight to keeping the NYC chapter of this beautiful organization running and providing advocacy, education, and support to the people who depend on it.
Mental health is a core issue of our time. Many of you may have experienced your own challenges or know others who are struggling. For those who are struggling, it is so important to speak to someone about it – demonstrating the bravery to ask for and receive guidance will not only help you, but could help or save another person (my college professor shared his own experience, and this gave me the courage to first go to therapy during a very difficult period in my life). Don’t try to do it all on your own — I certainly won’t on race day and expect to see all of you New Yorkers out cheering like CRAZY!
Please donate what you can and share with family and friends! Anything counts.
RIP to Dr. Robert Hirschfeld, who was instrumental in getting me transitioned back to life and made remarkable contributions to the understanding of bipolar disorder
