“And the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud, was greater than the risk it took to blossom.”
This quote by Anais Nin aptly describes the internal battle I have fought and overcome
throughout my life. While being diagnosed with bipolar type 1 with psychotic features at 16 years old, it has taken nearly two decades for me to begin to rid myself of the shame, stigma, and embarrassment of living with mental illness.
In the past year and a half, I have been diligently writing my first book (A Mind Restored). It is a memoir and instructional self-help guide detailing how I have effectively learned to manage the symptoms of my illness, and empower you to do the same. The book will be released January 3, 2024. My hope is to share it with you, those who live with mental illness, and with your loved ones so they can see ways to better understand and support you, and you can better support yourself. I invite you to follow along on my journey on social at kimberly_muka_powers_author.
While my illness has been mostly in remission since 2010, I have been practicing as a fully Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Michigan, where I reside with my husband. In January 2020, I opened a counseling private practice to pursue my calling to help others like I have been helped over the years.
I want to encourage you: don’t give up. In your struggle, know that you too can rise above and conquer your problems with courage, and hope; maintain your health; and pursue your God-given calling in education, career, relationship, and ministry goals.
Mental illness does not have to win as your identity. God has created us in his image and our unique identity is found in him. He longs to help us, rescue, redeem, and restore us. Inviting him into my life to heal the dark parts of my past and guide me has been the best choice I have ever made. He is longing for you, too, to simply call on His name, and invite him in to your story. May you find the key to live abundantly, unlock the door, walk out, and be free.