Finding community and connections after isolation of manic-depression

By Alex Rowan

Mental health struggles often feel isolating. I don’t really understand how I became hypomanic and manic. I think it was primarily stress related. The depression that followed makes more sense, as I regretted who I had been, and the destructive things I did. My friends and family didn’t really know what was happening either, or how to help. It made me feel very alone.

In addition to my weekly appointments with a therapist, and regular meetings with a psychiatrist,  I was looking for support when I began to recover. I found the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

HeyPeers and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

The DBSA offered me a beacon of hope through online peer-led support groups. The hour-long sessions are for those with depression, mania, hypomania, bipolar disorder, and related mood conditions. They are free and on Zoom.

The support groups are managed through HeyPeers, a video and chat platform. Since their integration a few years ago, these groups have become a vital resource, blending accessibility with raw, empathetic connection. You feel like you’re not alone and have a sense of community and support for your mental health issues.

I look for open meetings and sign up for the group support meetings here: https://heypeers.com/my_meetings.

The meetings are confidential, and you can choose to turn on video, share a picture of yourself, or remain anonymous. DBSA does not allow any observers. The only rule is that everyone must do a brief “check in.”

Users report reduced loneliness and sustained hope, with one calling it “a lifeline for chronic depression.” DBSA’s 1.5 million annual connections underscore its impact.

Yet, it’s not perfect. HeyPeers focuses on mood disorders, so broader mental health seekers may need other platforms. It’s also not for acute crises—call 988 instead. Occasional group dynamics can feel off, but facilitators’ training keeps sessions safe and empathetic.

Fictional example of a DBSA support group meeting

Consider Jackie, a 34-year-old Chicago designer grappling with bipolar disorder. After a 2023 manic episode cost her job, she felt adrift, craving connection beyond therapy’s clinical lens. 

Discovering DBSA on HeyPeers, she joined a session, camera off, heart racing. Facilitator Jane, a peer in recovery, opened with a simple question: “What’s one small win this week?” Stories poured out—a neighbor’s kindness, a breathing app’s calm. 

Jackie listened, then shared her own depressive fog. The group didn’t try to fix it; they mirrored it, offering “I statements” like, “I felt that too, and a dusk walk helped.” Laughter over “bipolar baking disasters” broke the tension, forging bonds.

By her third meeting, Jackie found a rhythm. HeyPeers became her anchor—quick chats for tough days, mood logs mapping her progress. 

• AI Listens For Mood Swings In The Voices Of Those With Bipolar Disorder
• Hospital Visits For Hallucinogens Linked to Sharp Rise in Mania
• Jason Silva Says Hypomania is A Driver of Creativity
• Radio Host Opens Up About Living with Bipolar Disorder
• Bipolar: Men More Likely To Have Mania, Women Depression