“I’m very open about my bipolar disorder. That’s really the way I handle it: by being honest, confident, and open about it. Of course there were and are a few people who are mean or dismissive. And for a few years, that hurt. But I finally got to the point where I could say, ‘I don’t need their negative influence.’

“I first wondered if I had bipolar disorder when—this is gonna sound cheesy—I saw a video of Demi Lovato opening up about her struggles with it. After everything she said, I realized, ‘That’s me.’ I went to someone who said I had ADD, but that just didn’t feel right. Then in college, I didn’t take action until the beginning of sophomore year, when I finally went to see someone. That was when I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and began treatment. And nearly everyone has been supportive, most especially the Frisbee team. They're so accommodating in everything I do--they look out for me and they're welcoming to Fred."

               “What advice would you give to someone who was in your position before you were diagnosed and found treatment?”

“Get help sooner. Get a service dog sooner. Even if some people attach stigma to what you think you might have, it’s not worth it. Because you can improve, and you will improve, but you have to start somewhere."

Fred is Ellen's service dog and is in need of surgery shortly. If you are interested in donating to alleviate the cost of Fred's surgery, please visit Ellen and Fred's GoFundMe at gofundme.com/kvpaes. 

"This is Fred. He's my service dog. He helps with my anxiety and depression, since I have bipolar disorder. I saved him from a shelter after he had been abused and neglected for seven years. He had some health issues initially, but there was a a health information mix-up, and I wasn't aware that he had a growth on his belly until recently. It looks suspicious, so it's going to be removed. He's going to have surgery on February 13th. But it's not easy to pay for surgery, especially as a college student."
                   "What kind of techniques does Fred know?"
"He can sense both my depression and anxiety coming on. When I'm feeling anxious, he will know to step between me and someone I'm speaking with. Or he'll paw at a chair if I'm sitting down. That's when I know to step out and excuse myself, or stay in for a night, to take care of myself. He also is trained to eat at the same time as me--so if I'm having difficulty eating, he won't eat, either. That helps with my motivation to take care of both myself and him. His training taught him to keep his eyes on me at all times to monitor me."
                  "Have you had any issues since you got Fred?"
"Notre Dame recently allowed service dogs, which is when I got Fred. Some people accuse me of not having a 'real' need for a service dog, and some businesses try to kick him out when I have the legal right to have him with me. Other people will try to call or pet him without my permission. I love when people pet him, play with him, or take pictures of him. But I wish they would talk to me first, so I know who they are before they start touching him.
"Honestly, I'm just someone who's trying to get better, and Fred helps me with that. In the past, when I had panic attacks or depressive episodes, I needed socialization and physical contact--especially a technique called 'grounding'. I used to feel guilty about calling on my friends because I felt like a burden. The act of having to contact them made me feel worse. But with Fred, I never feel that way. I take care of him, feed him, walk him, and love him. And in return, he takes care of me."

If you are interested in donating to alleviate the cost of Fred's surgery, please visit Ellen and Fred's GoFundMe at gofundme.com/kvpaes

"You probably want a picture of me from the side."

                "Uh, sure! So I should probably ask about the scar, then."

"I had a brain tumor. I had to have surgery in May to get it removed. I missed finals for it. Over the summer, I went through radiation for six weeks. Right after I finished radiation, I got on a plane and came to Notre Dame. It's been all good news recently, though. My self-designed major study got approved; I'm going to Madrid soon; I'm hoping to study abroad in Rome next year; my tumor is smaller. Last year frickin' sucked. But this year's my year."

"I'm subbing for the guy who normally delivers the Observer. And I brought help!"

"I've always been a 'work hard, play hard' kind of girl. I went out every weekend last semester but still managed to get good grades. I made it through, but I never felt truly satisfied with my drinking. Then, this syllabus week, I partied way too hard and ended up fracturing my wrist in four places. I can't take notes and can only type with one hand--so now I'm working even harder. But I feel like this is a sign to try some new things. I can figure out who I am, and who I want to be, and what makes me truly happy. ...and on the bright side, I have this awesome pink cast!"

Seen in O'Shag.

"My name is Zina, but everyone at work started calling me Xena Warrior Princess instead. Naturally, my nametag now reflects that."