Tag: alcoholism

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#32 On Being Bipolar 1 With Stephen Hays

podcast discussion on being bipolar 1

Stephen is the Founder and Managing Partner of “What If Ventures”. He is also the host of the Stigma podcast. Stephen has left a trail of destruction in his life due to undiagnosed bipolar 1. Three country clubs threw him out for being disruptive. He paid gambling debts by cashing in pensions and was unfaithful to his wife. With his life spiraling out of control, suicide looked like the only option. He booked a Vegas hotel room, partied hard meaning to end it all. The next day he woke up to find his wife and father looking over him. He had a choice, find a new way to live or risk following through next time.  Stephen now has a recovery program that helps him  live being bipolar 1 and his addictions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:02 — 28.8MB)

In this episode, we discuss the role of religion and 12 Step programs in Stephen’s recovery. Stephen shares the colorful characters he had to meet to be willing to start the recovery process.  We discuss the representation of bipolar in the media, specifically the character Ben from season 3 of Ozark.  And finally, Stephen explains why he started the “What If Ventures” investment fund and how being completely candid has had unexpected outcomes.

Remote Medical International are sponsoring this episode of Silent Superheroes. Remote Medical International® helps clients manage and improve the health and well-being of their global workforce. By creating an ecosystem of medical screenings, on-site medical staff, and injury management, we improve the quality of on-site medical care while reducing costs.

Links

About Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes big mood swings. For example, emotional highs called mania or hypomania, and lows called depression. On the other hand, bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression.

When depressed, bipolar patients may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest in most activities. Then, when the mood shifts to mania, patients may feel happy, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most patients will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any. Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, patients manage mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and counseling. Causes of being bipolar 1 aren’t clear, so your doctor cannot typical answer the question “Why am I bipolar?”.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their own views about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment plan.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#23 Healing From Inherited Trauma – Being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic

adult child of an alcoholic mental health podcast

Elizabeth has built a successful career in education but grew up in an alcoholic household and became an adult child of an alcoholic. In Silent Superheroes, we often hear about people’s personal battle with mental illness.  The truth is that most of us aren’t an island. We have friends, family and colleagues in our life that we interact with everyday.  When you spend a lot of time around someone, you leave marks on each other. This episode is about how our personal struggles change those around us.

Listen To Episode 23

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:55 — 28.9MB)

Show Notes

In this episode, Elizabeth is going to talk about her upbringing as the child of an alcoholic and how that shaped her worldview and affected her work.  She’ll tell us about the life changing news she found in her lunchbox and how a residential recovery program changed her mom. We’ll hear about the night drinking with her brother that showed her how her Mom’s alcoholism had affected her.  And how as a result of that night how she started her road to recovery. Finally, she’ll share the various different approaches she’s taken to healing, and how they’ve lead her to a place where she’s comfortable in ambiguity in her work.

Links

About The Adult Child of an Alcoholic Program

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)/Dysfunctional Families is a Twelve Step, Twelve Tradition program of men and women who grew up in dysfunctional homes.

We meet to share our experience of growing up in an environment where abuse, neglect and trauma infected us. This affects us today and influences how we deal with all aspects of our lives.

ACA provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment that allows us to grieve our childhoods and conduct an honest inventory of ourselves and our family—so we may (i) identify and heal core trauma, (ii) experience freedom from shame and abandonment, and (iii) become our own loving parents.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#20 Finding Perspective, Bipolar and Alcoholism at Work

bipolar and alcoholism mental health podcast

By day, Daniel is a sales manager at a credit card processing company and by night he’s a stand up comedian. Bipolar and alcoholism bring a unique perspective to Daniel’s work. As a stand up comedian, his life provides plenty of material, and his bipolar means he’s two comedians in one. As a sales manager, he’s able to stay calm and not be driven by the potential for success and failure. Because of his illnesses, Daniel has an honesty and an insight about him that cuts through the day-to-day business bullshit. As one of his colleagues, he makes work interesting and fun.

Listen To Episode 20

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:06 — 27.0MB)

Show Notes

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, we get to know Daniel a lot better.  He talks about comedy, and how bipolar means he’s two different comedians in one performer.  He shares the advice he got from a homeless woman in Central Park, that lead him to sobriety.  And finally, he reflects on the slightly nihilistic outlook on life, that helps him keep things in perspective.

Links

Here’s some places to find Daniel :

As a result of Daniel’s Instagram, I’ve just had a fit of laughter. That’s the genius of people with bipolar and alcoholism.

About Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. For example, mood swings include emotional highs called mania or hypomania, and lows called depression. On the other hand, Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression.

When depressed bipolar patients may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest in most activities. Then, when a patients mood shifts to mania or the less extreme hypomania, patients may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most patients will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, patients manage mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling.

Getting Help

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.