Hi! We’re Julie and Julian.

And yes, these are our given names.  Since being married in 2017, the one thing we both unequivocally agree on is that there are days when we have absolutely no idea how we make this thing work.  This “thing” being us. 

If you ask us the same questions about specific topics, it is a guarantee that you will receive completely different answers.  Favorite foods, preferred genre of music and movies, correct way to fold socks, and how to load the dishwasher.  These are just a few examples of things we have differing opinions or views on.  It is these differences on such topics that help us appreciate and respect each other’s individuality.  Opening ourselves up to watching a movie we wouldn’t usually choose or learning a new way to stack plates in a dishwasher are the little things that help us tackle things that require more patience and energy.

Mental illness is a part of our marriage.  There is no easy way to describe the amount of patience and understanding that is needed to handle it.  Even though only one of us is diagnosed, we are both affected in varying ways.  Having no experience or knowledge about what a marriage with (or without) mental illness would be like, we naively went in with the mindset that everything would be ok.  At the time, there was no therapy or medication in place for either one of us; not even a game plan or any tools. 

A large portion of our first years of marriage have involved educating ourselves on mental illness and adding therapy, medication, and tools that aid us both individually and as a husband and wife.  We want to share our experiences with you and what we have learned and continue to learn.  It is also our goal to step outside of mental illness and share other important aspects of our life such as travel, food, and art. 

One of the stigmas of mental illness is that an individual is not able to function normally.  We are proof that this way of thinking could not be more wrong. 

It’s important for you to know that neither one of us have any training in mental illness.  We are speaking solely on our own experiences and sharing what has, and hasn’t, worked in helping us be the best person we can be for ourselves and others.  It is our hope that in sharing our story, we can help remove some of the stigma and allow you to feel safe sharing yours.