It should come as no surprise that the death of someone you love can cause duress. No one is at their best after someone they care about passes away. Grief is a difficult and misunderstood emotion that often leads to mental health challenges for even the most stable of people. However, if you are managing bipolar disorder, how do you manage grief? To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Meet Your Inside Bipolar Podcast Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winn...
Oct 31, 2022•41 min
Agitation is a real and somewhat common symptom of bipolar disorder. Many people experience it and often we don’t even realize it. Today’s episode covers how agitation presents and some common warning signs. We also mention the subtle differences between being agitated in a clinical sense and being irritable in a typical range of human emotions. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Meet Your Inside Bipolar Podcast Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winnin...
Oct 17, 2022•32 min
It’s no secret that there’s stigma around mental health. Offensive comments made about bipolar disorder are enough to drive anyone, well, crazy. Listen as Gabe explores the intricacies of language down to word choice and how comments can impact folks with bipolar disorder. He and Dr. Nicole Washington discuss how language can be an alienating force — sometimes the only language we have to describe our experiences is grounded in stigma — and how to better handle insensitive comments from others. ...
Oct 03, 2022•38 min
Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if you didn’t understand that you needed treatment for your bipolar disorder (or other mental illness)? Have you heard of legal concepts like “Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)” or “forced treatment” and wondered how they relate to “lack of insight?” Turns out there’s a name for lacking insight — anosognosia. And it affects some people with severe and persistent mental illness. Listen as Gabe and Dr. Nicole explore what anosognosia means, what a ...
Sep 19, 2022•37 min
Fatigued. Lethargic. Drowsy. All words that mean you aren’t feeling 100% awake. Many people with bipolar disorder report this symptom — but is bipolar the cause? Could it be a medication side effect, lifestyle choice, or simply not getting enough sleep? Listen in as we discuss the link between bipolar disorder and feeling tired. Learn more -- or read the transcript -- on the official episode page. Meet Your Inside Bipolar Podcast Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives...
Sep 05, 2022•28 min
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Inside Bipolar podcast is moving to every other Monday starting September 5th. Same great hosts, same great content, and same great show -- just biweekly instead of weekly. Please subscribe so you don't miss an episode. In the meantime, if you need a weekly mental health podcast fix, you can check out Healthline Media's Inside Mental Health podcast on your favorite player. About the Show & Hosts: Join Gabe Howard, who lives with bipolar disorde...
Aug 29, 2022•4 min
Did you know that age changes not only potential symptoms of bipolar disorder, but also what care is available, how doctors see the illness, and even our own perspective? It’s even possible for bipolar disorder to show up for the first time in your 50s, 60s, or even later. Listen in as Gabe Howard and Dr. Nicole Washington discuss bipolar and aging — from myths about diagnosis, to whether the symptoms of bipolar disorder subside with age. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit t...
Aug 22, 2022•35 min
From swiping fatigue to getting ghosted, dating is a beast on its own. Throw in a bipolar disorder diagnosis and it gets really complicated, really fast. The first step might be telling someone you live with bipolar, but do you tell them before you meet, on the first date, or wait until you know them a bit better? How do you navigate the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and manage rejection — regardless of whether it’s because of your bipolar or something else? Listen as Gabe and Dr. ...
Aug 13, 2022•34 min
Pessimism can feel like it’s part and parcel of having bipolar disorder. But differentiating how much of your pessimism comes from bipolar disorder and how much of it is just your personality can be difficult. Host Gabe Howard talks to co-host Nicole Washington about his experience with pessimism and bipolar, how (and when) to get help if you’re a Negative Nelly, and where to draw the line between the two. Give yourself a little grace — because let’s face it, even if we imagine a world where bip...
Aug 08, 2022•35 min
What’s it like to have PTSD and bipolar disorder? Many people know that mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, frequently co-occur. Having bipolar disorder doesn’t preclude you from other mental health conditions like PTSD. Seeking treatment for bipolar disorder alone can feel daunting enough. Compound it with PTSD and it may feel ever more complicated and maybe even scary. In this episode, we explore different treatment options, how bipolar and PTSD can overlap in terms of sympt...
Aug 01, 2022•33 min
Do you ever get stuck on a particular thought, worry, or fear? It just goes around and around and around in your brain: You can’t stop thinking about it, and you can’t focus on anything else until whatever it is is resolved? That is a rumination and anecdotal evidence suggests they are common in bipolar disorder. But why is that? Are ruminations a symptom of bipolar disorder? Are ruminations listed in the DSM-5? And if you are ruminating on something, how do you get off of it? How do you move on...
Jul 25, 2022•32 min
People expect you to take time off work for things like surgery and recovery, as well as pregnancy. But if you have bipolar disorder and a period of acute sickness led you to take time off work, the process of returning to the workplace may feel daunting. What do you even say to your colleagues? The added pressure of making yourself attractive to employers doesn’t help — regardless of whether you’re going back to a job or if you’re on the market for a new one. We’ll share hints and tips to help ...
Jul 18, 2022•31 min
How do you disclose bipolar disorder at work? Should you disclose it at all? If you are going to disclose, how do you tell your boss, colleagues, and human resources that you have bipolar disorder? What are the pros and cons? Would you be surprised to hear that it is mostly cons or would you be surprised there are any pros? Listen now to find out more! To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Meet Your Inside Bipolar Podcast Hosts Gabe Howard is an award...
Jul 11, 2022•34 min
We all like to think that our psychiatrists are perfect paragons of virtue and that we are their only patients. But, deep down, we all know that isn’t really true. Psychiatrists see multiple patients, have many responsibilities, and are human — just like the rest of us. Join us as Dr. Nicole, a board certified psychiatrist, shares what behaviors get under her skin. We discuss how doctors don’t know what “the pink triangle pill” is, how they don’t all enjoy hugs, and why screaming at their staff ...
Jul 04, 2022•39 min
Everyone wants to have relationships with people – even if it is to just say hi and bye to our neighbors or get along with our colleagues at work. But when you have bipolar disorder, making new friends can be complicated. For example, when do you tell them about your diagnosis? Do you even need to tell them at all? How can you manage your feelings if they react poorly to the information? Sometimes you want to be around people who understand bipolar, and sometimes you just want to go bowling. How...
Jun 27, 2022•32 min
Whenever medication is discussed as it relates to bipolar disorder, someone will bring up medication compliance. Generally, it’s posed as a question, “Why aren’t people with bipolar disorder med compliant?” In this episode we discuss the phrase “med compliant,” what it means, and why it’s not as straightforward as “just take your meds.” To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the show's official episode page. Inside Bipolar Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker...
Jun 20, 2022•33 min
Do you have bipolar I or bipolar II? What are the differences and does it matter? Does debating which one is worse actually distract all of us from getting better? In this episode, Dr. Nicole Washington and Gabe Howard, who lives with bipolar I disorder, discuss. Inside Bipolar Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are...
Jun 13, 2022•31 min
Both bipolar disorder and pregnancy have unique medical challenges. How do those challenges converge? Is it safe to take medication while pregnant? What about while breastfeeding? Is the postpartum period more or less dangerous for someone with bipolar disorder? Is it important that your mental health doctors and pregnancy doctors are on the same page and, if so, how does the person who's pregnant navigate that? Listen in as our hosts discuss all this and more. To learn more -- or read the trans...
Jun 06, 2022•35 min
Bipolar or not bipolar? That is the question. Why do doctors change their minds about a diagnosis, and does altering a diagnosis mean they aren’t good at their profession? Does a change mean you are getting substandard care, and do you ever wonder why your diagnosis isn’t consistent from medical professional to medical professional, or even from facility to facility? Listen in to answer these questions and more. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the show's official episode ...
May 30, 2022•33 min
Are you having trouble with your sex life, but you don't think your doctor will understand? You decide that it's too awkward to explain, so you'd rather just stop taking the medication and tell no one – including the medical professionals treating you? That is a bad idea and a person who lives with bipolar and a licensed psychiatrist share why. Listen Now! To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the show's official episode page here. Inside Bipolar Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning ...
May 23, 2022•33 min
Can a psychiatrist just point to someone with bipolar disorder and commit them? What factors into that decision – are their guidelines, laws, or rules? And what about the reaction of families and friends? Are they normal for lecturing people about their bipolar disorder? In today’s episode we discuss how inpatient hospitalization is sometimes necessary, but always traumatizing. Listen Now! Inside Bipolar Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He...
May 16, 2022•32 min
What is hypersexuality? Is it just about having a lot of sex, or is there more to it? And why don’t we hear more about this common symptom of bipolar disorder? What could be the downside to having a lot of sex? Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole Washington explain the truth about hypersexuality. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the show's official episode page here. Inside Bipolar Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is t...
May 09, 2022•34 min
Bipolar advocate Gabe Howard and Dr. Nicole Washington discuss the pitfalls of getting information from our friends and from medical professionals. They also cover why the side effects of psychiatric medications may sound scary. The hosts offer tips on how bipolar patients can better advocate for themselves, including what not to say and when it’s better to stay quiet and listen. They share a nuanced and in-depth conversation about managing bipolar disorder. About the Inside Bipolar host: Gabe H...
Apr 18, 2022•30 min
