About bipolar Courage

Bipolar Courage is a blog of insights and art by Xanthe Wyse from New Zealand. Xanthe has been diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder.

​Xanthe started Bipolar Courage during a depressive episode. Xanthe makes her own meaning and purpose with creative projects to keep her going through the challenges of the highs and lows that go with bipolar disorder and PTSD. 

Xanthe is very determined and chooses challenging projects that seemed 'ridiculous' at the time but gradually works towards them. In the process, her creative expression has been therapeutic. 

expressive artist

When Xanthe's cognition was severely impaired with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, she started to paint. Painting is visual and didn't require trying to find words to express what she was processing.

She set the goal of an exhibition of process artwork to get through a very difficult time. She had her first solo art as therapy exhibition, Spinning Orbit, in 2018. She had a second solo art as therapy exhibition, Speak, in 2020.

published author

Xanthe self-published Pet Purpose: Your Unspoken Voice in 2021. Pet Purpose is a pet themed semi-autobiographical novel with a character also with bipolar disorder and PTSD. The paintings helped to write Pet Purpose, which is the essence of Xanthe's story pulled apart and put back together in a creative way, like a multilayered painting. Pet Purpose took 7 years from conception to publication.
Xanthe has been described by others as courageous and insightful. She is compelled to have a voice, a voice she could not have previously. Her artworks and novel are linked and tell aspects of her story in symbolism and metaphor. 

mental health advocate

Xanthe independently advocates for mental health, sharing her experiences and what helps her to manage her diagnoses. Her advocacy had included her art exhibitions, her novel, Pet Purpose and her vlog on You Tube, Bipolar Courage. Her raw, unedited, improvised videos on You Tube have had nearly 70,000 views.