3 months later.... and we are back!!! I have missed you guys so much and I wanted to share this episode all about triggers and what I experienced on my honeymoon.

Tune in to understand the way in which triggers can be both good and bad. I break down what the good triggers look like for myself that I have experienced these past few months.

As many of you know, I got married in March, moved into my first home with my husband in April and then left in May and June on our honeymoon to Europe.

I get real on the triggers that arose on the trip, what they meant, how I managed them and how you can manage both the good and bad triggers you experience with bipolar disorder!

Be sure to stay connected with me over here where you can always access the podcast, my book and my inbox to chat! Love you guys and I have missed you! :)

I missed you guys so so much!!! I took 2 months away to be present for my wedding that took place on 3/4/23!!

I wanted to make this episode to share a few big updates with you guys along with how I am taking care of my mental health before, after and during this time.

I have a lot of big changes coming very soon that I share in this episode. Some of them make me very happy and being away from all of you makes me sad but I open up about what is to come following all of these changes.

If you are not already, please follow me here and leave me a podcast review on Apple Podcasts if you haven't yet.

Last thing... check out my story and book here. Your support and presence here is what keeps me going, love you!

A topic not explored enough is one I want to bring you all today. What is the relationship between bipolar, body image and eating disorders? How can they impact one another? My special guest this week, Jennifer rollin, gets to the bottom of it.

Jennifer is a therapist, founder of The Eating Disorder Center, co-author of "the Inside Scoop to Eating Disorder recovery" who specializes in treating clients with eating disorders, body image issues, depression and bipolar disorder. Jennifer sent me a DM on Instagram and breaks down coping strategies for hypomanic, manic, and depressive episodes along with how EDs and bipolar can be intertwined and special considerations for coping.

What has it been like to manage living with bipolar with my wedding coming up? I want to share what has helped me the most throughout this entire process and time in my life and a change I am making...

As you guys know, every single Monday I have new episodes and 2/6-3/6 I will be taking a break from the podcast and releasing episodes in order to enjoy my bachelorette, bridal shower, time with family/friends and the wedding day!

Setting boundaries has helped me tremendously in this process, along with staying consistent with my routine (sleep schedule, meditation, medication, exercise, diet, journaling). I wanted to share things I have been struggling with and how I am prioritizing my mental health during this time.

I am so excited to share this solo episode with you guys with my wedding date coming very fast on 3/4/23!

If you have not already, please leave a review for the podcast on Apple Podcasts (I read and share them all).

Excited to share a story with you all this week about both the consequences and blessings that arise as a result of neglecting mental, physical and emotional health. 

My guest this week, Courtney Noelle, details what it was like to start and lose a business she poured her heart into during COVID... and how she found her calling to serve women in a way she never thought possible. 

Courtney is a 2x Entrepreneur, Podcast Host, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and Advanced Functional Nutrition Practitioner in training. She teaches health-conscious women how to feel in control of their body by identifying and healing the root-cause of their mental, physical, and emotional symptoms.

Also...Courtney is an active mental health advocate living with Bipolar Disorder 2 and shares what it was like to experience psychosis, hospitalization and the journey to prioritizing her peace.

My guest this week breaks down the light and dark sides surrounding recovery from drug addiction and the role of bipolar. 

Going from #1 rated television host, 17 years in radio and secretly struggling with an opioid addiction and bipolar diagnosis.... to successfully receiving treatment and reaching sobriety....

Matthew Tompkins joins me to share the unexpected lessons he took away from his experiences with bipolar amidst his busy lifestyle.

Matt is the co-owner of Two Brothers Creative, a podcast video production company, host of 'The Omaha Podcast' featuring Omaha's most successful entrepreneurs and host of 'It's the Fix,' his first podcast about addiction and mental health that has been on hiatus for a year. Matt describes the pressure of hiding his diagnosis and the gift that vulnerability brought to him upon sharing his experiences. 

For more Matt, check him out here. 

What is it like to go from working at a suicide hotline, traveling the world as a freelance tour guide, hosting a podcast and trying to heal your own self?

My amazing guest this week, Allison Toth, gets into the impactful lessons she learned so far living with bipolar 1 and borderline personality disorder. Allison shares the moments that broke her down and the beautifully unexpected ones that built her up.  

Allison gets into the role of self-discovery in breaking the bipolar stigma and the steps you can take to start to build the life you have always dreamed of yourself. 

For more Allison, connect with her here. 

Have you ever kept a secret related to struggles you faced with your mental health or bipolar?

I am joined by Kitt O'Malley, author of "Balancing Act: Writing Through a Bipolar Life," mental health advocate, speaker for NAMI, and former psychotherapist.

Kitt details how she transitioned multiple paths in life from drastic changes in career to discovering a purpose she never thought would belong to her. 

Kitt shares how she met her future husband at her lowest moment, committed to publishing her memoir and started down the road to advocacy and how you can too!

For more Kitt check her out here! 

How has the power of building and being part of different communities helped my guest?

This week I sit down with Shaley Hoogendoorn as she shares the power in the community she has been part of to play a role in the creation of "this is bipolar" podcast! 

Shaley is a speaker, vlogger and co-host of "This is Bipolar" podcast who aims to dismantle the stigma around mental health and create a safe community for those that struggle. She lives with bipolar ll, and is passionate about educating and empowering others about mental health disorders. She has contributed to publications for Sanctuary Ministries, Psych Central and BP Hope magazine. Shaley is also an elementary school teacher and event planner.

Tune in to hear Shaley recount what it was like to share her diagnosis publicly for the first time, how she teaches her children about mental illness and the ways in which she has effectively worked to decrease the stigma so far!

Have you ever struggled to find anything to help after receiving a diagnosis of bipolar? Or have your tried a number of different treatments or medications to reach no answers?

My guest this week shares how one of her favorite doctors who helped her discover a treatment that works.... later became her favorite teacher in medical school. 

Dr. Tara Peyman is a naturopathic doctor and the clinical director of Integrative Mental Health Center, where she focuses on providing holistic treatment options for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and complex trauma.