Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined

Georgia Vrakas
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

*Trigger warning: mental illness and suicide* Welcome to Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined.  My name is Georgia Vrakas. I am a bipolar woman, a clinical psychologist, a university professor and I write poetry on my mental illness journey.  In this podcast, I will explore the ups and downs of mental illness. In each episode I will be sharing discussion points on mental illness as well one of my poems to encourage reflection on what it is to live with a mental illness.  Why poetry and mental illness? Poetry can offer us valuable perspectives and insights on living with a mental illness. It can also help us in our recovery process. Poetry has been a balm for me. It has grounded me and helped quiet my mind. I hope this podcast offers you a soft place to land. I would love to hear from you!  For questions and comments: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com For updates on upcoming episodes check out my IG account @themadpoetrypodcast Cover art by Jean-François Houle Intro/outro music: Finding Hope (Emotional Cinematic Inspiring Piano, by Yudi Ashady (ASCAP) via Pond5 Suicide prevention ressources: Please call 988 in Canada & US Mental health resources: For Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html World: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/

Episodes

  1. DEC 16

    Breaking the Stigma

    Trigger Warning: Mental Illness This episode explores how stigma shapes the lives of those of us living with a mental illness, personally, professionally, and socially. The dominant stories society tells about us cast us at best as dysfunctional, and at worst as unstable or dangerous. This episode is also about breaking the stigma, having our voices heard, and reclaiming our humanity. Poem: Madwoman (2025) Advocacy resources: Advocacy groups for mental health in Canada (includes international advocacy goups) National alliance on mental illness (US) Send us a text Instagram: @themadpoetrypodcast Email: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com

    16 min

  2. NOV 18

    Missing the Highs

    Trigger Warning: mental illness & suicide This episode focuses on Bipolar Disorder which is characterized by highs (mania or hypomania) and/or lows (depressive episodes). Although this illness can have devastating effets and requires treatment, sometimes those of us who live with it miss the elements of the highs (eg., high self-esteem; high productivity; euphoria; etc.). An overall picture of what it means to be bipolar will be discussed, the good, the bad and the ugly. Reconstruction of one's self and one's identity and finding new meaning to one's life is central to recovery. Poem: Madness (G. Vrakas, 2023) For more information on bipolar disorders: Canadian Psychological Association Mental health support - Government of Canada  American Psychiatric Association Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (US) Send us a text Instagram: @themadpoetrypodcast Email: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com

    21 min

  3. OCT 15

    What is Wrong With Me?

    *Trigger Warning: mental illness and suicide* Welcome to the first episode of Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined. Today's episode will focus on that "in-between space", the one in which we find ourselves when we first start feeling mentally unwell, when our symptoms first start,  all the way to the moment we finally get answers regarding our condition. We will also talk about what mental illness is and the labels people use to define themselves living with a mental illness. We will also touch upon madness. To learn more about madness, these are 2 must reads: LeFrançois, B., Menzies, R., Reaume, G. (Editors) (2013). Mad Matters: A Critical Reader in Canadian Mad Studies. Canadian Scholars.  Russo, J, & Sweeney, A. (Editors) (2016). Searching for a Rose Garden: challenging psychiatry, fostering mad studies. PCCS Books. Send us a text Instagram: @themadpoetrypodcast Email: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com

    11 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

*Trigger warning: mental illness and suicide* Welcome to Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined.  My name is Georgia Vrakas. I am a bipolar woman, a clinical psychologist, a university professor and I write poetry on my mental illness journey.  In this podcast, I will explore the ups and downs of mental illness. In each episode I will be sharing discussion points on mental illness as well one of my poems to encourage reflection on what it is to live with a mental illness.  Why poetry and mental illness? Poetry can offer us valuable perspectives and insights on living with a mental illness. It can also help us in our recovery process. Poetry has been a balm for me. It has grounded me and helped quiet my mind. I hope this podcast offers you a soft place to land. I would love to hear from you!  For questions and comments: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com For updates on upcoming episodes check out my IG account @themadpoetrypodcast Cover art by Jean-François Houle Intro/outro music: Finding Hope (Emotional Cinematic Inspiring Piano, by Yudi Ashady (ASCAP) via Pond5 Suicide prevention ressources: Please call 988 in Canada & US Mental health resources: For Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html World: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/

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