Natasha Tracy
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Natasha Tracy
@natasha-tracy.bsky.social
550 followers 16 following 170 posts
I'm an expert in #bipolar who also lives with the illness. I have been researching bipolar for 21 years and have written more than 2000 mental health articles. I speak internationally and have written two books.

https://natashatracy.com
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Natasha Tracy @natasha-tracy.bsky.social · Jan 17
An intro: I'm Natasha, a mental health advocate, writer, speaker, and person living with bipolar. I've been researching bipolar for 21 years.

I've written a book about bipolar and depression, and I'm working on a second.

Learn more about my books here: natashatracy.com/natasha-trac...

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Natasha Tracy's Bipolar Books - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Natasha Tracy has written two books on bipolar disorder: "Lost Marbles" and "Bipolar Rules!" Find out more about Natasha Tracy's bipolar books here.
natashatracy.com
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Disturb the kitties at your own risk.

#caturday
Two black-and-white tuxedo cats lying side by side on a beige blanket, one facing the camera while the other rests with paws stretched out; the background is softly blurred. Close-up of two black-and-white tuxedo cats cuddling on a soft beige blanket, their faces pressed together and front paws overlapping in the foreground.
December 20, 2025 at 2:23 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Do you have holiday-related #anxiety? I sure do. But I've also got tools with which to deal with it. Check them out: l.natashatracy.com/holiday-anxi...
#bipolarsky #anxiety #holidayanxiety
Tips to Beat Anxiety During the Holidays - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Beating anxiety during the holidays is hard because the holidays tend to amp up anxiety. Check out these anxiety-beating tips for help.
l.natashatracy.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
I put together a guide to mental health gifts that are truly supportive—comforting, low-pressure, and designed for real life with mental illness.

l.natashatracy.com/mental-healt...

#bipolarsky #mentalhealth
15 Thoughtful Mental Health Gifts for Someone with a Mental Illness (That Actually Help) - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Struggling with what to buy someone who has a mental illness? Discover 15 thoughtful best mental health gifts that offer real comfort and support.
l.natashatracy.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Most disabled people once lived in non-disabled bodies. Many non-disabled people will join us one day. We’re not ashamed and we don’t need euphemisms to make others comfortable.

Say “disabled.” Mean it as a description, not a judgment.

#InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities #disability
Off-white square graphic with bold dark-purple text centered on the image: “On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, remember, we are just like you. Most of us used to be you. Some of you will become us. Get used to that.” The bottom shows the same row of rainbow-colored silhouettes of standing people and wheelchair users on a paint-splash background.
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Sometimes the bravest, healthiest choice is not spending the holidays with family.

Here's why it’s okay to opt out, how to build a different kind of holiday, & what to say when people don’t understand: natashatracy.com/bipolar-blog...

#thanksgiving #family
Holidays Without Family -- Mental Health and Not Spending Holidays with Family
Holidays without family can actually help your mental health. Here's how to do what you want and enjoy the holidays without your family.
natashatracy.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:42 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Hot take: pain isn’t a gift—but it isn’t random torture either.
In my new piece, I talk about emotional and physical pain as alarm systems, what they might be trying to protect you from, and why you’re not failing if it still hurts.
Read it: l.natashatracy.com/emotional-pa...
#bipolarsky #depression
What If Your Emotional Pain Is Trying to Protect You? - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Emotional pain can feel pointless, but it isn’t random. Learn how emotional and physical pain act as alarm systems—and how listening can help you heal.
l.natashatracy.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Two little duochrome troublemakers, fast asleep like they didn’t spend all morning causing chaos. If you’re looking for a moment of calm today, borrow this one.

#caturday #happycaturday
Two black-and-white cats curled tightly together, both sleeping with their faces touching. Their fur blends where the black and white patches meet, and soft light falls across their closed eyes and ears, creating a peaceful, cozy scene.
November 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Treatment-resistant doesn’t mean hopeless. I wrote what I wish I’d had: validation, a simple 72-hour plan, and the key questions to ask next. What helped you after a “no”? Read: l.natashatracy.com/failed-treat...

#TMS #TRD #DepressionCare #Psychiatry #CopingSkills #MentalHealthWriting #Bipolarsky
Square graphic of a transparent X-ray figure with head in hands, pink/red brain highlighted. Top text: “Failed Treatment Is Not a Verdict.” Overlay on brain: “I’m a failure.” Bottom tag: “@atasha-tracy.bsky.social.”
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Failed treatment hurts twice: no improvement and the crash after hope. Here’s how to get through the next 72 hours and plan your next move with your clinician. l.natashatracy.com/failed-treat...
#TMS #depression #TRD #bipolarsky
TMS Didn’t Work for Me: The Grief of Failed Depression Treatment and What to Do Next - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
TMS didn’t work? You’re not broken. Learn how to cope with failed depression treatment, a 72-hour plan, and what to ask your clinician next.
l.natashatracy.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Caturday is for giant yawns and unapologetic naps.

What refuels your batteries?
Close-up of a black-and-white cat mid-yawn on a bed, pink mouth and tiny fangs fully visible, one paw stretched toward the camera. Soft daylight and a blurred living-room background create a cozy, lazy-morning feel.
October 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Starting TMS and worried about headaches or migraines? Read this first. What the pain feels like and the fixes that keep me going. l.natashatracy.com/tms-headaches
#TMS #Migraine #Depression
Does TMS Cause Headaches or Migraines? My Experience + What Helped - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Do TMS treatments cause headaches or migraines? My first-hand guide explains the pain, what helps, and how to keep depression treatment on track.
l.natashatracy.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:18 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
In my 20s, I did 150 skydives. And while I no longer skydive, it is a punctuation mark in my life.

Right now, I'm going through something difficult and this is my new mantra: I'm a skydiver; I can do anything.

What has proven to you that you can do anything?

#mantra #bipolar
Selfie of a smiling woman skydiving above bright white clouds with a blue sky and sun flare; parachute lines visible. A teal banner reads, “I’M A SKYDIVER; I CAN DO ANYTHING.” Bottom tag: “@Natasha_Tracy_writer.”
October 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
AI strikes again. Thanks, Google.
October 12, 2025 at 11:31 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
World Mental Health Day isn’t just awareness. 2025 policy moves are shrinking access to therapy, meds, and crisis lines. I unpack what changed and why it matters.

Read, save, share. l.natashatracy.com/mental-healt...

#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthPolicy #MentalHealthCare #HealthEquity
World Mental Health Day, 2025: The Policy Rollbacks Making Mental Health Care Harder - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
World Mental Health Day: U.S. policy rollbacks pause parity, cut 988 LGBTQ+ services, and shrink clinic funding. See what changed and why it matters.
l.natashatracy.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Figaro is stately and gorgeous. Oh, and he knows it. 🐈‍⬛

Happy #Caturday, all.
A black and white cat is perched neatly on the lower shelf of a dark-colored bookcase. The cat has a mostly black back and head with a white muzzle, chest, and front legs, giving it a tuxedo-like appearance. It’s looking directly at the camera with an alert expression. Above the cat are several books, and to the right sits a reflective metallic sphere, which shows a distorted reflection of the surrounding room. Sunlight is streaming in from the left, softly illuminating the cat’s face and fur.
October 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Online mental health quizzes are everywhere, but most aren’t scientifically validated. Use PHQ-9, GAD-7, MDQ, ASRS, PCL-5, AUDIT—and treat results as a starting point, not a diagnosis. Full guide: l.natashatracy.com/quiz-vs-scre...
#MentalHealth #PHQ9 #GAD7 #AI #SelfDiagnosis #bipolarsky
Online Mental Health Quizzes vs. Validated Screenings: Use Real Tools - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Thinking of taking a mental health quiz or asking AI for a diagnosis? Learn what’s valid (PHQ-9, GAD-7, MDQ, ASRS), what isn’t, and what to do next.
l.natashatracy.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
This National Suicide Prevention Week, I wish people would remember that suicidality is a treatable symptom, not a character flaw. Here are 10 truths I wish everyone knew, for those who struggle and those who love them. Read + share: l.natashatracy.com/suicide-truths
#bipolarsky #suicideprevention
10 Truths About Suicide and Suicide Attempts - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert
Suicide is hard to talk about but knowing truths about suicide and suicide attempts can help start conversations to prevent suicide.
l.natashatracy.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:40 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
That is a false dichotomy. Countries other than the US have guns. What they don't have is fields of dead children every year. Why you can't learn from all these other countries is beyond me.
September 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
I’ve attempted suicide. People with bipolar face some of the highest risks—up to half will attempt, and around 12% die by suicide. Silence kills, but open conversation can save lives. 💛 Ask me anything.
#suicideprevention #talkaboutit #youarenotalone #bipolar #bipolarsky #ama
Yellow background with a yellow ribbon on the left. Bold black text reads: "I Have Attempted Suicide. Ask Me Anything." At the bottom: "@Natasha_Tracy_writer" with a curved arrow pointing right. Yellow background with a yellow ribbon on the left. Bold black text reads: "It's National Suicide Prevention Week." Smaller text below: "I believe the best way to prevent suicide is to openly talk about it." At the bottom: "@Natasha_Tracy_writer" with a curved arrow pointing right. Yellow background with a yellow ribbon on the left. Bold black text reads: "Up to half of all people with bipolar have attempted suicide." Smaller text below: "Around 12% of people with bipolar will die of suicide." At the bottom: "@Natasha_Tracy_writer" with a curved arrow pointing right. Yellow background with a yellow ribbon on the left. Bold black text reads: "If you have attempted suicide . . ." Smaller text below: "You are not crazy or broken. Suicide attempts tend to be symptoms of an illness, nothing more." At the bottom: "@Natasha_Tracy_writer" with a curved arrow pointing right.
September 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Which oral step-up treatment should you consider for #psoriasis in 2025? My plain-language guide breaks down new medication options, results, costs, guidance, and smart summer→fall skin tips. l.natashatracy.com/psoriasis-2025
Plaque Psoriasis in 2025: Oral Therapy Insights & Seasonal Skin Care Strategies
Explore 2025 data on Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) vs Otezla (apremilast) for psoriasis control in the, including mechanisms, efficacy, safety, costs, American Academy of Dermatology guidelines, and exper...
l.natashatracy.com
September 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
What “chemical imbalance” misses—and how to stop the self-hatred spiral. Clear science, practical tools, and three archive reads. Read + share: l.natashatracy.com/aug-newsletter

#bipolarsky #bipolar #mentalhealth
Cover slide on purple-magenta gradient with brain line icon. Headline: “Beyond ‘chemical imbalance’ + defeating self-hatred.” Subhead: “My latest newsletter.” CTA: “Read Now — Link in Bio.” Takeaways card titled “What the chemical imbalance theory gets wrong (and right).” Bullets: Bipolar is biological but not a “chemical balance”; multiple systems interact; spreading the myth causes harm. CTA bar. “Why self-hatred feels inevitable in bipolar.” Bullets: Depression warps self-view and memory; stigma and perfectionism fuel shame; post-episode regret keeps the loop going. CTA bar. CTA summary: “Read the newsletter now to learn about” — the truth about chemical-imbalance theory; ending the self-hatred loop; archives on accountability, psychedelics, and emotions vs symptoms. CTA bar.
September 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Kitties have looks that can kill. It's just part of their charm. 😼

Happy #Caturday, all!
A black-and-white cat sits perched on the corner of a textured dark ottoman. The cat has bright green eyes, a white face with black patches framing it, and a distinctive black spot on its nose. Its body is mostly white with a black back. Behind the cat, books and a blurred tabletop are visible in the background.
August 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
#Bipolar isn’t a "chemical imbalance." That myth oversimplifies & fuels stigma. Science shows real biological markers—from brain scans to genetics—that prove it’s a complex, medical illness. I wrote abt what the research really says → l.natashatracy.com/chemical-imb... #bipolarsky #survivingbipolar
Digital graphic of a human head in profile with a glowing brain, overlaid with text reading ‘Bipolar Disorder – Not a Chemical Imbalance in the Brain,’ along with the Instagram handle ‪@natasha-tracy.bsky.social‬ and hashtag #survivingbipolar.
August 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
This is guest kitty, Jellybean, or Beanz. She is sneaky and found all over the house. Luckily, that is just part of her charm 😼
A calico cat with green eyes is resting on a wooden counter beside a red wall, looking relaxed with its paws tucked under its chest peeking around an aluminum appliance.
August 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
natasha-tracy.bsky.social
Self-hatred with bipolar is more common than most people realize — and it’s not a character flaw.

In my latest article, I share why bipolar can make you turn on yourself, and real ways to quiet that vicious voice.

Read it here: l.natashatracy.com/self-hatred-...

#BipolarDisorder #MentalHealth
A blurred, double-exposure image of a person with short blond hair, eyes closed, and hands covering part of their face, conveying emotional distress. Text on the left reads “Why it’s so easy to hate yourself with bipolar” in bold white and green, with the handle @natasha-tracy.bsky.social and the hashtag #survivingbipolar below.
August 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM