Live Well Bipolar ‪™‬ Paris Scobie

Navigating Hormonal Changes in Women Living with Bipolar Disorder



In this episode, Paris welcomes back Melissa Howard, a mental health advocate and writer, to discuss the intricate relationship between hormonal changes and bipolar disorder in women.



Melissa shares her personal journey, including her diagnosis with bipolar disorder at 19, experiencing significant mood disruptions associated with hormonal changes such as puberty, the use of birth control pills, and the impacts of pregnancy and menopause on her bipolar symptoms.



She highlights the challenges of managing bipolar disorder alongside hormone-related health issues like endometriosis and the drastic changes post-hysterectomy leading to menopause.



Through her story, Melissa emphasizes the importance of routine, diet, minimizing stress, and working closely with healthcare professionals to manage the complexities of bipolar disorder influenced by hormonal changes.



The episode aims to shed light on the often-overlooked interplay between hormones and mental health in women living with bipolar disorder.



Connect with Melissa here!



00:00 Welcome to Live Well, Bipolar: A Deep Dive into Hormonal Changes and Bipolar Disorder

00:22 Introducing Melissa Howard: Mental Health Advocate and Bipolar Disorder Expert

02:53 Melissa's Personal Journey: From Hormonal Imbalance to Bipolar Diagnosis

09:19 Understanding the Impact of Hormonal Changes on Bipolar Disorder

13:19 Navigating Pregnancy, Medication, and Bipolar Disorder

34:50 Lifestyle Changes and Managing Bipolar Disorder in Menopause

39:34 Closing Thoughts and Where to Connect with Melissa

Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder, Breast Cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease: Ann’s Inspiring Journey



In this episode of 'Live Well, Bipolar,' the host welcomes Ann, an almost 11-year breast cancer survivor who at 55 was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Bipolar I disorder.



Ann shares her journey, focusing on her late diagnosis during the pandemic, the challenges she faced being misunderstood and navigating the healthcare system, and the eventual acceptance and steps she took to ask for help.



Despite experiencing delusions and being hospitalized multiple times, Ann remains positive and is passionate about educating others on mental illness and reducing stigma. She emphasizes the importance of asking for help, sharing one’s story to alleviate the feeling of being alone, and fostering a supportive community for people living with mental health challenges.



Ann encourages people to educate themselves about bipolar disorder and to approach those affected with compassion. She shares her story openly on social media and through interactions, hoping to connect with and support others going through similar experiences.



Connect with Ann here!



00:00 Welcome to Live Well, Bipolar: Introducing Our Special Guest

00:34 Ann's Journey: Surviving Breast Cancer and Living with Parkinson's and Bipolar Disorder

02:22 The Diagnosis Story: Navigating Mental Health in the Midst of a Pandemic

05:25 Hospitalization and the Struggle for Understanding

10:38 The Road to Recovery: Challenges and Support

15:53 Sharing the Story: The Power of Openness and Community

26:53 Living Well with Bipolar: Insights and Reflections

30:47 Final Thoughts and How to Stay Connected

Navigating Motherhood and Bipolar Disorder with Alessandra Torresani



Alessandra Torresani is a multifaceted artist known for her captivating performances in film, television and theater. From her early roles in hit TV shows like Malcolm in the Middle and 'The Big Bang Theory' to her life changing work as host of the EmotionAL support pod, Alessandra continues to captivate audiences.



I am excited to dive deeper into her journey and insights into the world of motherhood as it relates to living with bipolar. She is dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health by spreading kindness, compassion and hope. Alssandra brings tons of fun and laughter to her mission while sharing her story and the stories of others on her podcast EmotionAL Support



Alessandra shares her story from being misdiagnosed and eventually finding relief in her correct diagnosis to the challenges and changes she faced during pregnancy, including going off medication. Emphasizing the importance of a support system and community, Alessandra delves into how she navigates motherhood while managing bipolar disorder, offering insights into the significance of routine, therapy, and open conversations.



The discussion also touches on the societal perceptions and personal impacts of sharing mental health struggles publicly, the considerations of medication during pregnancy, and the broader implications of motherhood on identity and self-care.



Stay connected with Alessandra here and go check out her podcast, EmotionAL Support, here!



00:00 Meet Alessandra Taurasani: A Journey from Acting to Advocacy

01:34 The Diagnosis Journey: Misunderstandings and Breakthroughs

04:37 Embracing Medication and the Path to Stability

06:08 Finding Love and Acceptance: A New Chapter Begins

10:14 Motherhood and Bipolar: Navigating New Challenges

11:39 Creating a Supportive Environment for Motherhood

15:23 The Importance of Routine and Structure in Parenting

19:35 The Lost Sense of Community in Parenthood

20:26 Finding Support and Building Connections as New Parents

23:25 Navigating Mental Health and Medication During Pregnancy

28:22 The Power of Sharing and Supporting Each Other

35:31 Exploring Identity and Motherhood

39:12 Concluding Thoughts on Support and Community

The last Monday of every month I always love to share something with you that I am navigating as it relates to living with bipolar.



March was a really fun and really busy month for me. Many of you know that I was out of the country celebrating my first wedding anniversary 3/2-3/11.



My baby sister, Milan, turned 21 along with another friend's birthday and going away event for another close friend.



I got to speak to a room of 100+ people sharing my lived experience with bipolar as one of NAMI'S Faces of Recovery. I attended the 3rd annual Kid in the Corner Gala and had a lot of meeting connecting with so many doing great work in the community around mental health.



But March is not over yet and there are still a lot of exciting things coming that I mention in the episode. As many of you know, good events can also be a trigger when living with bipolar.



For me personally, this month I was consumed with love, gratitude and excitement but... I also found myself feeling bad for not showing up as much online. I was hard on myself for taking longer than expected to get back into my routine and I also felt a lot of overwhelm, stress and an inability to slow down in certain moments.



So... what did I do? I made sure to check in with my therapist, loved ones and get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper. The more I got clear on where my more uncomfortable feeling came from... the more I was able to work through them to take care of myself.



It has been a challenge getting back to normal life following a trip out of the country but with my support network, I have been able to do it and so can you! :)



Please do me a favor and message me on Instagram (or email me at livewellbipolar@gmail.com) what you think of this episode. Without your feedback, I would not be here today.

Spreading Kindness Through Hand-Carved Heart Rocks: Tom Ballard's Journey with Bipolar Disorder



Tom Ballard, known as the Heart Rock Guy, has distributed over 210,000 hand-carved, heart-shaped rocks to spread kindness and love. So far, he has learned that 106 lives have been saved as a result.



Tom shares his journey before and after his bipolar diagnosis at 29, describing how creating these heart rocks became a therapeutic activity that helped him manage his bipolar. He explains the process of making these rocks, the responses from recipients, and his belief in the power of kindness to strengthen connections and potentially save lives.



Tom also talks about his school presentations, designed to encourage kindness among students, and the impact of those initiatives. He offers personal insights on living well with bipolar disorder, emphasizing self-grace, lifestyle adjustments, and finding purposeful activities. The episode highlights a heartwarming outreach story and extends an invitation to listeners, offering to send them a hand-carved heart rock in times of need.



Reach out to Tom here and send him a message sharing your takeaway from this episode to have a FREE heart rock sent to you!



00:00 Welcome to Live Well, Bipolar: The Heart Rock Journey

00:17 Tom Ballard: The Heart Rock Guy's Story

01:00 The Birth of the Heart Rock Movement

03:18 Spreading Kindness Through Heart Rocks

06:23 The Ripple Effect of Kindness

14:17 Living Well with Bipolar: Tom's Personal Strategies

19:20 The Power of Kindness and Creativity

22:54 Impactful Stories and the Circle of Kindness

28:55 Living Well with Bipolar: Finding Your Purpose

32:19 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Tom

This beautiful person connected with me on Instagram and ever since she has become someone I am grateful to call a friend.



Katie is a therapist and the woman behind the Instagram page @katie.theBipolarTherapist. She received her Bachelors Honors Degree in Psychology in 2007 and, following being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 with psychosis, completed her Masters of Social Work degree in 2010.



She graduated with distinction and proceeded to work in the Mental Health field within a healthcare environment since that time. Katie has experience working in programs such as Eating Disorders Treatment, Intimate Partner Violence, Crisis and Suicide Intervention and within an Acute Mental Health Unit in a hospital setting.

In addition to providing individual and group based therapy, Katie has recently started to speak publicly about her lived experience with Bipolar Disorder Type 1, generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. She is dismantling the stigma around Mental Illness, providing education, advocacy and telling her story about managing her mental illnesses while living a fulfilling life.



Katie speaks openly about the impact not knowing about her diagnosis had on her professional life and relationships. Despite the challenges, Katie managed to build a supportive relationship with her husband, Ryan.



She shares her feelings around opening up about her diagnosis publicly and how this has transformed her experience into advocacy, aiming to educate others and reduce the stigma around mental illnesses. The episode explores the importance of self-knowledge, support, and ongoing learning in living well with bipolar disorder.



For more Katie, stay connected with her here!



00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation

02:01 Guest's Journey to Diagnosis

09:04 Living with Bipolar Disorder: Personal Experiences

11:51 Support Systems and Relationships

20:45 Managing High Stress Situations

23:52 Opening Up About Bipolar Disorder

27:09 The Power of Sharing and Advocacy

32:23 Living Well with Bipolar: Final Thoughts