Diagnosed with Bipolar

In this episode, I share what it’s really like living with bipolar I. It isn't just about "highs and lows"; it’s subtle shifts, early warning signs, and learning how to live a full life anyway. I talk about hypomanic bursts of creativity and sleepless energy to manic episodes that quietly distort reality, and the long stretches of feeling completely normal. I break down how I learned to recognize early warning signs, what medication changed for me, and why most days I’m just… a regular person.Blending personal experience with neuroscience and research, this episode explores what mania, hypomania, and bipolar depression actually feel like inside the mind.

I share the story of how my life unraveled—and slowly began to come back together—during my final months of college. What started as anxiety about graduation and chronic sleep deprivation escalated into my first full manic episode just two weeks before I was supposed to graduate. I talk about warning signs I ignored, a spring break trip to Texas where my delusions took over, and the fear and confusion that followed as I was hospitalized multiple times and ultimately diagnosed with bipolar disorder.This episode explores what mania actually looked like for me, the disbelief and stigma I faced around my diagnosis, and why accepting help was so difficult. I also talk about hitting breaking points and how those moments forced me to confront the reality that this wasn’t a “one-time accident.”Finally, I reflect on what recovery has looked like since. Episode 1 sets the foundation for the podcast—an honest look at mental illness, recovery, and what it means to rebuild your life while learning to live with bipolar disorder.IG: @forthelazies