On this episode of Casting the Net, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Maddie Andrews, Executive Director and Founder of J&E Support Group out of Liberty, North Carolina.

And let me tell you — this conversation moved me.

Maddie lives with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, OCD, generalized anxiety, and PTSD. In 2023, she experienced severe lithium toxicity, serotonin syndrome, and a brain injury that left her relearning how to walk, talk, swallow, and even breathe.

But here’s what I want you to hear… She did not let her diagnosis define her. She chose to rise.

Instead of staying silent, instead of hiding in shame, she created a nonprofit offering 100% free peer support groups to break stigma and build community. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work and is stepping boldly into advocacy and policy reform to make mental health care equitable, affordable, and accessible.

We talked about:

• Why staying on prescribed medication matters
• How to build a mental health support team
• The power of peer support
• Breaking stigma through vulnerability
• Separating your identity from your diagnosis

One thing Maddie said that stayed with me:

“I don’t say I’m schizoaffective. I say I live with it. I am a person first.”

Listen… that right there is freedom.

This episode is about hope.
 It’s about courage.
 It’s about reclaiming your voice.
 And it’s about reminding you that managing your mental health does not disqualify you from doing amazing things in your life.

You are more than what you struggle with.

Connect with Maddie Andrews: Www.jesupport.org