By Catalina Madarasz

Julie Schroder, 27, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder; she suffers from paranoia and has difficulty dealing with society. She says she is also a heavy smoker and an alcoholic. Schroder uses art, especially painting, as a way to express herself and cope with her illness. This photo essay describes her life within the walls of the one-bedroom apartment in Corona, Queens that she shares with her boyfriend Tony Rodriguez.