PLAY PODCASTS
From Broken to Blessed on The Bipolar Spectrum | Sara Schley ~ ATTMind 178
Episode 178

From Broken to Blessed on The Bipolar Spectrum | Sara Schley ~ ATTMind 178

Adventures Through The Mind

June 16, 20231h 26m

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.libsyn.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Today's episode is a bit of a lateral step from psychedelics specifically as we are going to talk about bipolar with Sara Schley, the author of the highly-acclaimed memoir BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum.

We talk about bipolar as a spectrum and the different variations of bipolar disorder; why it is that so many people with bipolar are misdiagnosed and the issues this presents to those individuals and their families; major triggers for bipolar episodes and why medication isn't enough to keep people stable; the self-care system Schley has developed for living with a bipolar brain; and how to support your friends/family that are in a bipolar crisis.

Enjoy.

...

For links to Schley's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind178

*** FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW**

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

*** Extra BIG thanks to my patrons on Patreon for helping keep this podcast alive!

Especially my $23+ patrons, Andreas D, Ian C, Yvette FC, Alex F, Eliz C, Nick M, Joe A, Nanci BF, & Heartwood Mushrooms —— and to Laurie A for their generous one-time donation.

Episode Breakdown

  • (0:00) Opening
  • (1:52) Guest bio and episode summary
  • (3:40) Patreon thanks | Support the show
  • (5:45) Interview Begins
  • (8:37) The story of Sara discovering that she has bipolar
  • (12:34) The bipolar spectrum and the different variations of bipolar disorder
  • (16:55) Traditional SSRIs do NOT work for bipolar
  • (18:21) The epidemic of misdiagnosis of bipolar
  • (21:52) How undiagnosed bipolar (and mental illness in general) can destroy your relationships and your life
  • (27:17) Why there are so many mentally ill people in our society
  • (30:25) The genetics, epigenetics, and neurology of bipolar
  • (35:34) Does life context "activate" bipolar or is it inevitable regardless of context?
  • (43:49) PECS self-care system (Physical, emotional, creative, spiritual)
  • (49:56) Pharmaceutical vs non-pharmaceutical treatment for bipolar
  • (1:00:39) Having a practical PECS moment
  • (1:02:19) Keeping bipolar stable and major triggers
  • (1:08:39) Why isn't medication enough to keep stable?
  • (1:14:16) James' morning practice
  • (1:16:07) How bipolar made Sara a better person
  • (1:20:41) What Sara wants you to remember from this podcast
  • (1:21:31) The emergency ally toolkit (how to support your friends/family that are in a bipolar crisis)
  • (1:23:04) Follow up links for other content, social media, and Sara's book Brainstorm
  • (1:24:33) Closing, socials, and gratitude