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5. Being Bipolar with Stephan Ringer: Embracing My Misfit (Part 2)
We’re back with the second half of Stephan Ringer’s incredible story.
In part 2 of this conversation, we travel back to the U.S. with Stephan and his wife and explore what it was like trying to get back on their feet (and almost hitting bankruptcy); the “hard sell” of having kids in today’s world and their experience starting a family; and what it was like learning their son had a developmental delay and trying to navigate a new style of parenting.
Then, we dive head-first into the three days surrounding Stephan’s manic period and bipolar diagnosis; talk about his experience while in the mental hospital and what it was like trying to re-integrate into “normal” life; and discuss what it was like realizing his wife was also bipolar and a very difficult, yet necessary, decision Stephan had to make in order to “save” his wife.
Threaded throughout this conversation, Stephan talks about the shame and misconceptions surrounding bipolar disorder and neuro divergence, and opens up about personal struggles as well as shares advice and helpful metaphors to try to reassure those who might be “in his shoes.” And at the end, we talk about what it was like for Stephan recently choosing his own mental well-being over work, and the decision to leave his job.
Resources
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Disclaimer: Not Your Average GOAT is produced and edited by Teisha Gillespie with music by Anton Vlasov and Serge Quadrado. All content is copyrighted and should not be reproduced, recreated or reused without explicit permission. Please visit NotYourAverageGOAT.org/Contact for questions.
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By Teisha Gillespie (She/Her)We’re back with the second half of Stephan Ringer’s incredible story.
In part 2 of this conversation, we travel back to the U.S. with Stephan and his wife and explore what it was like trying to get back on their feet (and almost hitting bankruptcy); the “hard sell” of having kids in today’s world and their experience starting a family; and what it was like learning their son had a developmental delay and trying to navigate a new style of parenting.
Then, we dive head-first into the three days surrounding Stephan’s manic period and bipolar diagnosis; talk about his experience while in the mental hospital and what it was like trying to re-integrate into “normal” life; and discuss what it was like realizing his wife was also bipolar and a very difficult, yet necessary, decision Stephan had to make in order to “save” his wife.
Threaded throughout this conversation, Stephan talks about the shame and misconceptions surrounding bipolar disorder and neuro divergence, and opens up about personal struggles as well as shares advice and helpful metaphors to try to reassure those who might be “in his shoes.” And at the end, we talk about what it was like for Stephan recently choosing his own mental well-being over work, and the decision to leave his job.
Resources
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Disclaimer: Not Your Average GOAT is produced and edited by Teisha Gillespie with music by Anton Vlasov and Serge Quadrado. All content is copyrighted and should not be reproduced, recreated or reused without explicit permission. Please visit NotYourAverageGOAT.org/Contact for questions.