Communication researcher Dr. Bradford Bitterly and cognitive therapist Dr. Lisa O'Donnell tackle the reasons, considerations, and potential risks and benefits of disclosing your bipolar disorder diagnosis at the workplace and in personal relationships with friends and family. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak.


Dr. Bradford Bitterly is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on communication during strategic disclosure interactions, such as negotiations and interviews.

Dr. Lisa O’Donnell joined Wayne State University’s School of Social Work in 2017 as an Assistant Professor. She is dedicated to clinical and intervention research examining the nature of clinical and employment outcomes for mood and anxiety disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, as well as efforts to develop, refine, and implement evidence-based treatment. Lisa has been trained in various evidence-based treatments and has over 15 years of experience in delivering individual and group psychotherapy to adolescents, adults and families. She is certified as a cognitive therapist through the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research.


#talkBD⁠ gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Learn more about the talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast and upcoming episodes at ⁠https://talkBD.live

Disclosure & Bipolar Disorder: Pros, Cons & Relationships | Dr. Bradford Bitterly & Dr. Lisa O'Donnell | EP. 31 

talkBD gathers top bipolar experts, psychiatrists, psychologists, and researchers from around the world to discuss and answer live questions on a topic area important to life with bipolar disorder. Learn about upcoming episodes, mental health resources, and more from our bipolar disorder experts at: https://talkBD.live. 

Hosted by international bipolar disorder research network CREST.BD.

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Award-winning researcher ⁠Dr. Holly Swartz⁠ breaks down the "bipolar clock", and proposes a fresh approach to take charge of your bipolar symptoms by timing your light exposure, temperature, body position, eating, and social contact. Dr. Swartz also discusses the science behind social rhythm therapy (SRT) and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), and presents a fresh approach to reset your biological body clock and take charge of your bipolar symptoms.

(00:00) Introduction
(00:13) About Dr. Holly Swartz
(04:00) Circadian Rhythms Are Key for Bipolar Disorder
(08:37) Advantages of Having a "Bipolar Clock"?
(11:42) Light Disruptions, Season Changes, Blue Light
(16:51) Create Consistent Routines
(20:51) Time Your Eating, Body Position, Social Contact, Temperature
(29:08) Track Your Social Rhythm Metric (SRM)
(30:25) Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)
(33:33) Social Rhythm Therapy Workbook for Bipolar Disorder
(36:00) Strive for a Supranormal Routine


Learn more and share this episode: ⁠https://bipolarclock.com⁠

Dr. Holly A. Swartz is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and President of the International Society of Bipolar Disorders (ISBD). She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College, medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and completed her psychiatric residency training at New York Hospital / Cornell University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Swartz’s research focuses on understanding and optimizing treatments for mood disorders. She is well known for her work evaluating Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) as treatments for depression and bipolar disorder. Her research focuses on the role of IPSRT and pharmacotherapy in the management of bipolar II depression and IPT in the management of maternal depression. She is engaged in collaborative projects to develop computational frameworks to model dyadic interpersonal behaviors in relation to psychotherapy process and outcomes and to understand neural correlates of change in chronotherapeutic behavioral interventions. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation, and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.


This episode is hosted by Dr. ⁠Erin Michalak⁠ and produced by Caden Poh. 


#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.
Learn more about talkBD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://talkBD.live

The Bipolar Clock: Stabilize Mood By Resetting Your Body Clock | Dr. Holly Swartz | EP 40 

Over 2,400 years ago, Greek physician Hippocrates first detailed symptoms of "opposite" mood states - what we now understand as mania and depression. Throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era, vivid descriptions of melancholy and euphoria continued to surface, drawing focus to a set of distinct symptoms that appeared to occur in cycles. 

In this special talkBD episode, psychiatrist Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona dives through centuries of evidence to uncover the fascinating story of manic-depression - and how we've come to know the condition today as "bipolar disorder".

(00:00) Introduction
(01:54) Virginia Woolf Knew She Was Ill
(03:58) Ancient Greece & Rome
(09:22) 19th Century France & Germany
(14:18) The Circular Pattern of Bipolar Disorder
(18:52) The Modern Era
(21:00) The Bipolar Spectrum
(24:14) The DSM & History of Mixed Features
(27:04) Today: Key Figures, Advocacy, World Bipolar Day
(31:50) The Term "Bipolar Disorder" Is Inaccurate?
(35:20) King George III & Life Charting
(41:49) Learning from Your History

People referenced
Ancient & Classical: Hippocrates, Aristotle, Aretaeus of Cappadocia, Posidonius
19th Century: Jean-Pierre Falret, Jules Baillarger, Karl Kahlbaum, Emil Kraepelin, Vincent van Gogh, King George III
Modern Era: Virginia Woolf, Karl Leonhard, Jules Angst, David Kupfer, Ellen Frank
Today: Kurt Cobain, Carrie Fisher, Kanye West, Britney Spears

Share this episode: http://bipolarhistory.com


Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona is a member of the ISBD Board of Directors and works as an associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry for the Anahuac University in Mexico City, Mexico. He began his involvement with ISBD in 2008 as the founder of the ISBD Mexican Chapter and since then in key leadership roles: first as ISBD Secretary Treasurer and then as ISBD President, serving for two consecutive terms from March 2014 to December 2017. He was able to actively promote the Society and generate local chapters in several countries of Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He is passionate about providing education on bipolar disorders and using the Society as a game-changer in public mental health services. Since World Bipolar Day’s inception, he has been involved in its global promotion and making connections with experts with the lived experience to generate community awareness and fight stigma. Dr. Sanchez de Carmona has more than 30 years of clinical experience treating mood disorders and is interested in diagnosis, early detection, and providing quality of life to patients.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak and produced by Caden Poh. 


#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.
Learn more about talkBD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://talkBD.live

The History of Bipolar Disorder: An Untold Story | Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona | EP 39 

Psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Jarecki shares a powerful story of living with bipolar disorder - from spiralling into depression to being taken to hospital in handcuffs during mania. Dr. Jarecki reveals how her experience with bipolar I disorder turned her to psychiatry to help others in their recovery journey, and delivers a heartfelt message of hope that living well with bipolar disorder is possible. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak.


(00:00) Introduction
(01:52) Growing Up & Early Signs
(03:01) First Depressive Episode: "My World Was Ending"
(08:14) Mania: Grandiosity & Delusions
(10:52) Handcuffs & Hospitalization: "Fighting for My Life"
(15:02) The Aftermath: Shame, Treatment & Rebuilding
(21:49) Bipolar Disorder Made Me a Better Psychiatrist 
(26:43) Why Recovery Is Possible
(30:58) What Psychiatrists Fail to Understand
(37:57) "I Promise You, Things Will Get Better"
(40:17) Thank Yous & Unconditional Acceptance


Dr. Joanna Jarecki is a Psychiatrist with interests in Mood Disorders, ADHD, Maternal/Peri-natal mental health, and physician health, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Her clinical approach has been influenced by her own lived experience with Bipolar Disorder, Type I, and her journey of recovery. Through this journey, and witnessing the recoveries of many patients, she has learned that people with bipolar disorder can flourish and live a full and meaningful life. She is passionate about sharing her story with the intention that it gives hope to others living with BD.


More on this episode: https://talkBD.live/bipolar-psychiatrist
#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.
Learn more about talkBD: ⁠⁠⁠https://talkBD.live

Bipolar Psychiatrist: Your Diagnosis Is NOT Your Prognosis | Dr. Joanna Jarecki | EP 38 

A remarkable story of living with bipolar disorder: 36-year US Army retired combat veteran Maj. Gen. Gregg. F. Martin shares his experience of bipolar disorder after joining the army at 18, and how his symptoms remained hidden and undiagnosed despite alarming warning signs during multiple deployments and stages of his military career. Gregg Martin also details his route to recovery, bipolar disorder in his family, and his top strategies to live well with bipolar disorder. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak.


(00:00) Intro
(00:52) Joining the Army & Early Years
(06:51) The Iraq War & Paranoia
(11:22) Depression - "The Crash"
(13:27) "The Real Mania"
(16:45) How My Bipolar Symptoms Were Hidden
(19:31) My Diagnosis Was Exposed
(24:23) Rebuilding Relationships (Family & Friends)
(28:12) Two Sons Also Have Bipolar Disorder
(29:02) Reflecting on Misdiagnosis
(34:12) "You Will Pull Out of This"
(35:21) Message to Maggie (Wife)
(37:35) Daily Wellness Routine
(40:21) Bipolar General - The Book

Gregg F. Martin PhD, is a 36-year Army combat veteran, bipolar survivor and thriver, and retired two-star general. A former president of the National Defense University, he has lived most of his life on the Bipolar Spectrum, and is a qualified Airborne-Ranger-Engineer and strategist, who holds degrees from West Point and MIT. An author, speaker, and mental health advocate, he lives with his wife in Cocoa Beach, Florida. 
Gregg's new book: “Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness”_ is available on Amazon (Hardcover/Kindle). The book is published by the US Naval Institute Press and endorsed by the Association of the US Army. For more information, visit https://generalgreggmartin.com
More on this episode: https://talkBD.live/bipolar-general
#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.
Learn more about talkBD: ⁠⁠https://talkBD.live

Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness | Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin | EP 37 

Author Sara Schley recounts her story of living with bipolar II disorder - from her first episode of depression in college, to publishing her memoir after keeping it a secret for over 40 years. Sara also breaks down why people with bipolar II disorder are commonly misdiagnosed, her upcoming film on bipolar disorder - BrainStorm, and the life lessons she practices to live well with bipolar disorder. Hosted by Dr. ⁠Erin Michalak⁠.

(00:00) Intro 
(01:23) Depression and the Early Years 
(04:19) The "Family Disease" 
(06:05) Misdiagnosing Bipolar II - "Why Am I Still Depressed?" 
(12:05) Ways to Prevent Relapse 
(14:21) Practice "PECS" to Stay Well 
(21:26) 4 Ways to Support Someone with Bipolar Disorder 
(27:00) Telling My Story After 40 Years - "Melting Off the Shame" 
(30:11) Sara’s Memoir: BrainStorm 
(32:35) BrainStorm the Film

Sara Schley is the author of the acclaimed memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. She is a business consultant, speaker, and author who has led organizational transformations at renowned companies around the world. Sara is a mother, grandmother, community leader, and has been married to a great guy for twenty-six years. She also has a Bipolar II brain, on the Bipolar Spectrum. Sara has kept this mostly a secret for four decades. Until now. She is choosing to tell her riveting story – from broken to blessed – to save lives, end stigma, and optimize healing for millions. Sara is also a writer and producer of BrainStorm – an upcoming film inspired by her memoir.

More on this episode: ⁠https://talkBD.live/bipolar-ii-disorder⁠
#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder.

Learn more about talkBD: ⁠https://talkBD.live

Disclosure & Bipolar Disorder: Pros, Cons & Relationships | Dr. Bradford Bitterly & Dr. Lisa O'Donnell | EP. 31

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