DBSAlliance

It's no secret that overspending can happen to people with bipolar disorder! But oftentimes overspending isn't as obvious as buying a house or car you don't need after seeing a "for sale" sign. Some activities that also lead to bankruptcy don't seem so bad at first. We examine the roles mania and hypomania can play in bankrupting persons with Bipolar I and II, respectively. In Pt 1, we examine one safeguard. In the next podcast, Pt 2, we will look at multiple safeguards to stop overspending.

Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments:

Have you (or someone you know) ever spent too much money because of mania or hypomania?

What kinds of things are you tempted to spend too much money on?

Could you or someone you know find this podcast helpful?

Hanh is back with more weight loss secrets in Part 2 of Eating Right. She shares strategies 4, 5, and 6 for eating right. Drawn from changes in her own life--she was an emotional eater before she became the successful fitness coach she is today, she shows us how to keep the pounds off! As someone with Bipolar II, she also gives special advice for people with bipolar disorder & depression. If you missed it, Click here for Pt 1 (of 2) of Eating Right. Eating right and exercise go together! Click here for podcast, "How Exercise Saved My Life: Fitness Coach with Bipolar Shares 5 Strategies That Will Keep You Motivated & Exercising." Interested in learning more about Hanh's services? Check out www.healthyhanh.com or follow her on twitter @healthyhanh!

Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments:

Will you use any of the strategies in this podcast?

Did you learn something new?

Has Flipswitch helped you become a healthier person?

Are you an emotional eater? Do you eat when you're stressed or depressed? Have antidepressants caused you to gain weight? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then listen to our favorite Fitness Coach, Hanh Nguyen, as she shares 3 nutrition tips that helped her lose weight! Eating right and exercising go hand in hand--check out Hanh in her last Flipswitch podcast, How Exercise Saved My Life: Fitness Coach with Bipolar Shares 5 Strategies That Will Keep You Motivated & Exercising. Interested in learning about Hanh's coaching services? Visit www.healthyhanh.com.

Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments:

Can you use any of the 3 tips in this podcast to eat right?

Have you used Hanh's exercise tips in the past?

Do you eat when you get stressed out?

Erin continues the story she began in Pt 1 (of 2) in the "Back to School with ADHD" series. She tells us about a fourth problem students with ADHD face called Working Memory Disability or Executive Functioning. Erin also explains 3 strategies students with ADHD can use to finish high school or college using her own experience as someone who went from academic probation to the Dean's List! She also shares about how the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada helped her along with ADHD books that guided her. For more info, just visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca!

Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments:

Could you (or someone you know) use any of the 3 tips Erin explained?

Have you experienced problems with Executive Functioning?

Did you learn anything new that can help you?

n this podcast, we learn how ADHD affects school by hearing Erin, a successful 29-yo with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She'll identify 3 common problems for students with ADHD and tell us how she went from academic probation to the Dean's List when she was in college! This is Part 1 of 2 Parts in the "Back to School with ADHD" Series. To check out the resources that helped Erin, visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca!

Your Thoughts/Suggestions for Comments?

Could you relate to the 3 problems Erin talked about?

Did you learn something new from this podcast?

Has this podcast helped you understand how people with ADHD feel?

Hanh, a fitness coach with Bipolar II, tells us about how her illness has affected her relationship with her husband when they were dating and now that they are married. We discuss things NOT to say to a partner with bipolar disorder. We also discuss helpful things you can say or do when the one you love has this illness. Featured: Run to You as sung by Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard Soundtrack. ♪ ♫

Your Thoughts?

Can you use these strategies to love someone with bipolar (being there, listening, saying "I Love you," supporting-not fixing)?

Have you experienced relationship success despite a mental illness?

Millions of people with bipolar are misdiagnosed with unipolar depression. The young woman in this podcast, Melody Moezzi, is one of those people...who was misdiagnosed for 10 years! Rather than being discouraged, Melody rallied and became an advocate for people with bipolar disorder. In addition to being a published author, Melody is an attorney. Melody explains to us how her misdiagnosis happened and what you can do to prevent this kind of misdiagnosis from happening to you or someone you love. (Hint: it involves mood charts. For a link to sample mood charts, instructions on how to use them, and blank charts, just click here at http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=mooddiary).

Your Thoughts?:

Have you or someone you know ever been misdiagnosed?

Can mood charts help you?

During the winter, depression is everywhere. Do you fight lethargy, datyime fatigue, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide every winter? Might you (or someone you know) have SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder? Whether you have the winter blues or SAD, this podcast is for you. Hear 3 ways you can tackle winter depression including light therapy (the most recommended treatment for SAD in North America)! Also featured: Johnny Mathis' Winter Wonderland. ♪ ♫

Your Thoughts?:

Do you struggle with winter depression?

Can you use any of these 3 strategies (trying light therapy, developing snowed-in-routines, celebrating winter traditions)?

Can a person with bipolar or depression be elected President? Many politicians have suffered the mental health stigma, but there was a time when the U.S. elected a man who was very public about his depression. How did this happen? Abraham Lincoln was elected and would go on to be the President credited with holding the Union together during the Civil War and ending slavery. With the help of the Back to the Future theme song, we travel back to 1860 for answers. On our way to the future, we learn 3 things we can do now to end stigma! Also featured: readings from Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk.

Your Thoughts?

Were you surprised that people didn't hold depression against Lincoln?

Can you use the 3 tips for ending stigma (not juding employees by illnesses but by contributions, not confusing character with mental illness, & sharing the Flipswitch podcast)?

Ellie's back! She told us before about how her diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and depression helped her overcome loneliness and difficulty in school. At 21-yo, today she is a happy senior in college. Now, she tells us how her dual diagnosis helped her end a lifetime of being overweight. Ellie shares 3 weight loss secrets. She shows us how she dropped 40 pounds and kept the weight off!

Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments:

Were you encouraged by Ellie's story?

Could you use her advice (moderation, variety, accountability)?