September 13, 2021

Let's Talk about Bipolar Disorder with Clisver Alvarez

30 minutes

Welcome to this week’s episode of the StephUp Podcast! Thank you for your support and for coming back each week to listen. This episode features special guest, Clisver Alvarez.

Clisver is a mental health advocate and mindset coach. Her business is called Blue Greis Lifestyle.

Clisver shares her story about how she came to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and how it affected her and her family. At the age of 16, she thought it was an asthma attack at first and walked herself to the hospital. As she dealt with the side effects of being put on medication, Clisver also tried to commit suicide by jumping off a roof. Thankfully, she reached out to someone during this time.

Steph asks Clisver if there is a difference between manic depression and bipolar disorder. Clisver thinks it depends on the person as some people deal more with hypomania, others are more manic and others have schizoaffective disorder.

Dealing with being diagnosed as a teenager was very difficult as Clisver was not only dealing with the side effects from her medication as well as missing school and having to catch up. Journaling was a huge help for Clisver during this time and it has now become part of her career as a mindset coach and mental health advocate.

"At the time, I saw my illness as my kryptonite, as my weakness. I remember crying and seeing myself as a victim. But I turned it into my biggest virtue."

As Clisver works with her clients , she creates a personalized 12-step program to help them with their confidence, working through their mental health and learning to advocate for themselves.

There are a lot of stigmas around bipolar disorder and mental health. Clisver is Hispanic and in her community, asking for help is a sign of weakness. She fights to help people work through these stigmas.

Follow Clisver on her Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and her website.