The Upside of Bipolar: Conversations on the Road to Wellness Michelle Baughman Reittinger

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discussed trauma and addiction.
In this extraordinary episode holistic addiction recovery expert John Giordano shares:
His extraordinary story of trauma and addiction that finally led to his work in addiction recovery,How he discovered and developed holistic treatment options for addiction recovery,What motivated him to do the work to recover from his addictions,The modified EMDR modality he uses to help people process trauma,The importance of treating the whole person and paying attention to how your body reacts during a trauma response in order to process the trauma and heal,How doing your own research empowers you on your healing journey, andThe importance of never giving up.Websites: www.johnjgiordano.com
                        www.kidfromthesouthbronx.com 
Facebook: John Giordano
LinkedIn:John Giordano

Bio:
John Giordano has gone through an incredible life transformation, from the stigma of childhood sexual abuse, homelessness and severe addiction to being a renowned addiction expert with 39 years of sobriety. He started his own holistic treatment center with only $300 which he eventually sold for $45,000,000. Currently, he is a published author of three books, an inspirational speaker, co-owner of JC's Recovery Center and the Chaplain for the North Miami Police Department. He specializes in holistic mental health and trauma recovery. John has appeared on many national and local television and radio shows as a respected addiction expert. He has also contributed to over 80 scientific peer-reviewed research papers. ResearchGate ranks him as one of the top researchers in the world. 



FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/

In this compelling episode Urban Farm founder Greg Peterson shares:
His story of how he developed a passion for “urban farming” and why he feels compelled to share his knowledge,Why our current food supply system is so lacking in nutrition,How to simplify your approach to begin gardening so you can have success quickly,How he gradually transitioned his small yard in Phoenix, Arizona from basic yard to an “old growth food forest” including 80 different fruit trees (backyard orchard culture),Where someone can start to begin gardening, including free and paid online gardening classes,The benefits of hydroponic gardening,The emotional benefits of gardening,The mental benefits of eating nutrient dense foods,The value and importance of using a planting calendar for your area, andHis top three tips for getting started.
Websites: www.urbanfarm.org 
Beginner course: Growing Food, the Basics
Instagram: @urbanfarmu
Facebook: The Urban Farm
X (Twitter): @TheUrbanFarm

Bio:
“What if there was a garden and fruit tree in every yard?” This is a question that
Greg ponders every day. For over 32 years he created on of one of Phoenix’s first
environmental showcase homes for urban farming. The 1/4-acre yard featured a
primarily edible landscape with over 80 fruit trees, rainwater and greywater
harvesting, solar applications, and extensive use of reclaimed and recycled building
materials.  What we now call an Old Growth Food Forest.


He is the founder of UrbanFarm.org and the host of The Urban Farm Podcast that
has over 800 episodes. The podcast is designed to help fulfill Greg’s passion of
spreading the word about growing your own food and sharing new and seasoned
gardeners epic stories.








FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/

In this meaningful episode Certified IFS Therapist Justin Martin shares:


His story that led him to become an Internal Family Systems (IFS therapist),What IFS therapy is,How identifying your “parts” helps you understand your mind and find healing,Why you may fear of having compassion for your different parts and why compassion is important to the healing journey,How the movie “Inside Out” helps give incredible insight into IFS,That you are not trying to “beat” the parts of yourself but learn how to listen and understand what is motivating the parts,The importance of finding a trauma informed therapist,The value of curiosity in finding the causes of mental, emotional and physical symptoms,How to find a certified IFS therapist and a good fit for you,That IFS can benefit anyone struggling with mental health symptoms even if there is no history of trauma, even for couples,How IFS empowers you to heal and does not tie you to your therapist, andHis tips for how to decide if IFS is a good fit for you.

Websites: www.partsofmetherapy.com
                         www.teesmymind.com
Instagram: @partsofmetherapy

Bio:
Justin Martin is a Certified IFS Therapist in Orlando, Florida. He practices from a model of Internal Family Systems and works with individuals and couples.

Justin loves to write and create. This part expresses itself through poetry, short stories, speech, and spoken word. He also loves music and movies and thinks it can be so powerful in accessing his parts. He’s grown to love these parts of himself by going to therapy and continuing to be curious and compassionate as he experiences life. As a therapist, he tries to embody these qualities as he walks with his clients towards helping them find inner peace.

He genuinely loves being a therapist and practitioner and is honored when clients allow him to be a part of their healing journey. Seeing their relationships transform with themselves and others is truly a beautiful thing to witness.






FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/
FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/

In this engaging episode Beth Sandlin, founder of Trifecta Pilates, shares:
Her story that led her to become a pilates instructor and make pilates more accessible,What pilates is and how it can help with caring for physical and mental health,The importance of listening to your body and providing what it needs for nurturing physical and mental health,How pilates can help with regulating your nervous system,How to choose the best way to meet your body/mind’s needs with your exercise,The benefit of throwing away the scale and focusing on your health instead of weight,How finding joy in your physical activity helps motivate your fitness journey,The philosophy behind “Trifecta Pilates” and the development of her YouTube and online classes, The different options in her pilates workouts and how to get started, andHer number one tip for success in finding what works for you.
Website: trifectapilates.com
Instagram: @trifectapilates
Facebook: Trifecta Pilates
YouTube: Trifecta Pilates

Bio:
Beth Sandlin is on a mission to ignite a passion for wellness in people at every stage of life. Specializing in at-home Pilates workouts, Beth's approach transcends age, focusing on cultivating a mindful connection with your body. Her unique method encourages participants to tune into their energy levels and nurture their nervous system, making each movement an act of self-care and empowerment.


Through her popular YouTube Channel and comprehensive online programs, Beth guides you through transformative Pilates sessions. She believes in the power of Aligned Action - a philosophy ensuring that your journey to health is both fulfilling and sustainable.


Beth understands that wellness is more than a workout. She's an avid outdoor enthusiast who finds joy and rejuvenation in nature's embrace, integrating these experiences into her holistic approach to well-being.





FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/

In this insightful episode MDR Clinician, Trainer and Author Megan Salar shares:
Her story that led her to become a therapist,The transformative experience she had with EMDR that helped her see it’s value as a trauma modality,How EMDR is a client centered treatment modality,The EMDR workbook that she developed to empower people to take ownership of their trauma healing,That most therapist are not educated in treating trauma,Misconceptions about how trauma is stored in our mind and body and how it is often triggered,The difference between “talk therapy” versus trauma therapy,How to identify if your EMDR therapist is approaching treatment in an effective way and how to decide if EMDR is a good treatment modality for you,Why she’s writing “EMDR for Dummies” and it’s value in helping people understand the modality, andThat your story matters and healing takes time.Instagram: @thementalsurvivalist
Website: thementalsurvivalist.com
Books: The EMDR Workbook for Trauma and PTSD
                  EMDR for Dummies (coming in June 2024)
LinkedIn: Megan Salar


Bio:
Megan Salar, MSW, ACADC, is an EMDR Clinician, Trainer and Author who earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University in 2011. She has been extensively been trained on the use of EMDR and other trauma based interventions and specializes in the areas of trauma, abuse, attachment and substance abuse. Megan has trained thousands of clinicians across the U.S. as well as internationally to get the most out of EMDR, trauma and addiction based skills and practices.
         Megan previously owned/operated an intensive outpatient treatment center that was voted best in practice in 2019. She currently owns and operates her own Coaching, Consulting, and Training Business and is passionate about genuinely changing the landscape of mental health and trauma treatment through an authentic hands on perspective that is uniquely her own.
         Megan is the author of the EMDR Workbook for Trauma and PTSD: Skills to Manage Triggers, Move Beyond Traumatic Memories; and Take Back Your Life released by New Harbinger Publications in May of 2023 and EMDR for Dummies  with Wiley Publishing set to release in June 2024.  





FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/

NOTE: There were some technical issues with the recording in this episode, we apologize for the sound quality.

In this empowering episode mindset coach Jon Katz shares:
His story journeying from wanting to end his life, to finding purpose, healing and value,What motivated him to choose life over death,The benefit of choosing positive actions to change your mindset,How keeping promises to himself helped him change his life,How critical it is to get off the fence and make a choice about the life you want to live,The importance of removing the negative coping mechanisms from your life,How changing his food choices improved his mental and physical health, andHis approach to personalizing his training to support the goals of his clients.Instagram: @nycfoodways
Bio:
Jon Katz is an online mindset coach. He specializes in helping people around the world recover from anxiety, depression and trauma by implementing a simple program of intentional nutrition and physical fitness.



FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://myupsideofdown.com/emergency-response-plan/

FREE Facebook Group for Moms with Bipolar: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bipolarmomslivingwell

blog: https://myupsideofdown.com/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myupsideofdown/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myupsideofdown/