The Upside of Bipolar: Conversations on the Road to Wellness

Send us a message!

In this engaging third conversation with David Stephan, we unpack why symptom spikes during micronutrient use often signal overmedication, not relapse, and how to time reductions for smoother tapers. We share stories, protocols, and tools that make withdrawal safer while building real, durable stability.

• intake essentials and complete disclosure of meds and supplements
• medication potentiation explained and how to spot it
• custom reductions for SSRIs, benzos, stimulants, antipsychotics
• tracking patterns and using plateaus to time cuts
• med releases from stress or intense exercise and safe responses
• why to avoid liver cleanses and how whey protein isolate and aminos help
• gut health, candida protocol, and absorption basics
• four pillars: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, omega-3s
• using RXList to understand med release symptoms
• consistency tools: organizers, alarms, spacing doses
• faster vs safer taper styles and realistic timelines
• trust, patience, and compliance as success drivers
• resources, independent research, and support coaching

Link:

Truehope Canada | Media & Publications

Bio:

Over the past 22 years, David Stephan has worked extensively with Truehope, an organization on a mission to help individuals overcome mental illness through the use of groundbreaking micronutrient solutions. During this time, he has been involved in leading edge discoveries that have not only provided significant transformation in thousands of lives but have also been scientifically validated in dozens of independent studies from universities around the world. As such, David feels it a privilege and duty to share the knowledge that not only changed his life, but has also allowed for well over 100,000 others to transform their lives as well. 

For more resources, visit www.theupsideofbipolar.com. If you're ready to dive deeper, grab my book, The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder. If you're ready to heal your symptoms, join my monthly membership, The Upsiders' Tribe, to transform chaos into hope.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

What if the brain isn’t broken—but under-supplied? This episode continues the conversation with David Stephan, VP of Truehope, as we dive into the specifics of how vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and omegas provided in bioavailable, balanced forms, help the brain recover. In this conversation we talk about:

• The difference between the function of drugs and micronutrients on the brain
• How micronutrients actually help resolve bipolar symptoms, including serious symptoms like psychosis.
• Why eating healthy is not enough to resolve bipolar symptoms and why micronutrient  supplementation is necessary.
• The role that genetics play in bipolar symptoms.
• How micronutrients can help resolve the MTHFR gene mutation.
• How the vast majority of mental illness diagnoses are actually micronutrient deficiencies.
• How micronutrients help facilitate healing trauma and other sources of mental illness symptoms.

Come back next week as we dig into what to expect when shifting from medications to micronutrients and how to navigate symptoms with confidence.

Link:

Truehope Canada | Media & Publications

Bio:

Over the past 22 years, David Stephan has worked extensively with Truehope, an organization on a mission to help individuals overcome mental illness through the use of groundbreaking micronutrient solutions. During this time, he has been involved in leading edge discoveries that have not only provided significant transformation in thousands of lives but have also been scientifically validated in dozens of independent studies from universities around the world. As such, David feels it a privilege and duty to share the knowledge that not only changed his life, but has also allowed for well over 100,000 others to transform their lives as well. 

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

Join me as I speak with Truehope Vice President David Stephan as we trace how a family’s tragedy led to a nutrient-based approach for mental health, why absorption and balance matter more than labels, and how research and real lives converged. The science behind serotonin and dopamine pathways shows why broad-spectrum micronutrients can restore function where drugs often fall short.

• origin of Truehope and early family outcomes
• why chelation, ratios, and particle size drive results
• building a single consistent 36-ingredient formula
• regulatory roadblocks and court validation
• serotonin and dopamine cofactor pathways explained
• dangers of single-nutrient fixes like zinc without copper
• omegas and micronutrient synergy for brain health
• stress, dosing adjustments, and disaster studies
• preparing to transition from meds to micronutrients

Come back next week as we dig into the difference between medications and micronutrients and how micronutrients heal the brain.

Link:

Truehope Canada | Media & Publications

Bio:

Over the past 22 years, David Stephan has worked extensively with Truehope, an organization on a mission to help individuals overcome mental illness through the use of groundbreaking micronutrient solutions. During this time, he has been involved in leading edge discoveries that have not only provided significant transformation in thousands of lives but have also been scientifically validated in dozens of independent studies from universities around the world. As such, David feels it a privilege and duty to share the knowledge that not only changed his life, but has also allowed for well over 100,000 others to transform their lives as well. 

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

We challenge the reflex to medicate and the vacuum around de-prescribing by tracing Jen’s 25-year story with SSRIs, from teenage labels and muted emotions to neonatal withdrawal, metabolic fallout, and a hard-won hyperbolic taper. We share tools for safer tapering, building a support tribe, and reclaiming informed consent and agency.

• prescribers trained to start meds, not de-prescribe
• teen SSRIs without context of eating disorder or stress
• labels and DSM coding shaping identity and care
• pregnancy decisions without full informed consent
• neonatal withdrawal and long-term family impact
• seasonal dose hikes vs nutrition and light therapy
• metabolic dysfunction and dismissal by clinicians
• withdrawal misread as relapse or new disorder
• addiction vs dependence language and why it matters
• hyperbolic tapering and liquid formulations
• micronutrients, amino acids, and restorative movement
• mindfulness to rebuild sensitivity and agency
• research literacy, conflicts of interest, and bias
• how to choose your tribe and educate supporters
• Jen’s consulting, therapy work, and advocacy

Links: 

Website: www.jennschmitz.com

TikTok: @jenn.schmitz

Instagram: @therapistjen

Podcast IG: @thegaslittruthpodcast

YouTube: @thegaslittruthpodcast

Bio:

Meet Jenn Schmitz, a woman redefining the field of psychology with a unique blend of expertise and lived experience. Holding a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and having spent over a decade as a traditional therapist, Jenn took a bold step beyond the conventional boundaries of Western medicine. Her personal struggle, marked by the dark process of tapering off psychiatric medication, revealed insights that reshaped her approach to mental health. Today, as a Nationally Certified Neuro-Health Coach specializing in Mental Health and Addiction Nutrition, she empowers others as a Holistic Deprescribing Consultant. By integrating physical wellness, nutrition, and mindfulness, Jenn guides clients safely through the intricate process of tapering off psychiatric medication. Driven by a mission to expose the hidden harm of psychiatric treatments and ignite curiosity, she hosts the internationally acclaimed The Gaslit Truth Podcast. 

For more resources, visit www.theupsideofbipolar.com
If you're ready to dive deeper, grab my book, The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder
If you're ready to heal your symptoms, join my monthly membership, The Upsiders' Tribe, to transform chaos into hope.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

We challenge the “gold standard” of therapy plus meds and show how nutrition, sleep, and curiosity reveal root causes that the psychiatric labels miss. Dr. Teralyn Sell shares her journey from traditional psychotherapy to functional brain health, and why feeding the brain changes everything.

• how siloed systems block simple solutions like omega‑3s
• the cost of medication‑first care on memory, mood and agency
• subjectivity in diagnosis and the loss of curiosity
• thyroid, UTIs, inflammation and blood sugar as symptom drivers
• amino acids and micronutrients to support neurotransmitters
• protein timing and cofactors for dopamine and serotonin
• small steps that work: blue‑light limits, steady protein, better sleep
• rebuilding identity and autonomy when tapering with support
• the pillars: eat, sleep, move, meditate for lasting change

Links: 

website: WWW.drteralyn.com

TikTok: @dr_teralyn

Instagram: @Dr_Teralyn

Facebook: @dr_teralyn

Bio:

Today’s guest is Dr. Teralyn Sell, a PhD brain health expert, nutritionist & psych med deprescribing professional who is grounded in psychology and functional wellness. She has spent over two decades helping people untangle the root causes of mental health struggles. She’s known for her no-nonsense, science-meets-real-life approach to anxiety, depression, and stress, guiding people beyond symptom management into lasting change.

Dr. Teralyn is the cohost for the nationally acclaimed podcast, the Gaslit Truth and has been featured in national media, including television and radio, for her refreshing take on mental health, which combines neuroscience, psychology, and nutrition. When she’s not working with clients or speaking to audiences, you’ll find her enjoying time with her husband of 30 years, her three adult children, and her granddaughter, often somewhere on the Florida Gulf.

Her mission? To empower you to reclaim your brain, your body, and your life, without getting stuck on the medication merry-go-round.

Thanks for joining me on the Upside of Bipolar. For more resources, visit www.theupsideofbipolar.com. If you're ready to dive deeper, grab my book, The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder. If you're ready to heal your symptoms, join my monthly membership, The Upsiders' Tribe, to transform chaos into hope.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

Understanding the true source of bipolar symptoms requires becoming a detective in your own life rather than accepting diagnosis as the final answer. Approaching symptoms with curiosity instead of judgment allows us to identify what's really happening beneath the surface and find effective paths to healing.

• Diagnoses are observations of symptom clusters, not explanations for why you have symptoms
• Breaking symptoms into specific experiences rather than broad categories reveals important clues
• Looking at circumstances surrounding symptom onset helps identify potential triggers and causes
• Coping mechanisms like binge-watching or substance use are clues about underlying distress, not character flaws
• Tracking patterns in symptoms can reveal connections that aren't obvious when living with them daily
• Approaching trauma responses with curiosity helps identify what needs healing
• Medication side effects or withdrawal can create symptoms that complicate the picture
• Writing your detailed story in a dedicated notebook helps uncover the true sources of symptoms

Grab a composition notebook and start writing your story, beginning with your earliest memories of symptoms. Become a detective in your own life so you can uncover the true sources of your symptoms, treat them with integrated research-based approaches, and heal.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

Michelle shares her transformative realization that bipolar disorder isn't a disease but a cluster of symptoms, and how this understanding freed her from decades of believing she had an incurable condition.

• The bipolar diagnosis ends curiosity about why symptoms occur because people believe they've been given a complete answer
• Being told bipolar disorder is lifelong and incurable creates helplessness and a victim mindset
• The chemical imbalance theory of mental illness has been thoroughly debunked by research
• Psychiatric medications cause chemical imbalances rather than correcting them
• Common sources of bipolar symptoms include micronutrient insufficiency, trauma, health factors, medication effects, and unhealthy coping mechanisms
• Focusing on symptoms instead of disorders allows for identifying and treating specific causes
• Recovery is possible by getting curious about symptom sources rather than accepting a diagnosis as destiny

Go to theupsideofbipolar.com and get your free mood cycle survival guide - four steps to successfully navigate bipolar mood swings. If you're ready for more, check out the Map to Wellness.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

Michelle shares why she took a hiatus from her podcast to fully experience planning her daughter's wedding and supporting her son through his senior year of high school.

• Decided to pause her podcast, blog, and social media when life became overwhelming with a job change, moves, planning a wedding, and senior year activities.
• Realized the purpose of healing from bipolar was to be present for these family milestones
• Planning her daughter's wedding became a beautiful healing experience for their relationship
• Practiced mindfulness throughout the wedding day to fully experience every moment
• Used the Mood Cycle Survival Guide tools automatically to manage stress
• Set an aggressive goal to unpack their new home in two weeks while listening to audiobooks instead of binge watching shows
• Discovered that homeschooling her youngest daughter was the right choice for their family

If you're struggling and feeling hopeless, check out Michelle's other podcast episodes, read her blog, or read her book "The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder." Until next time, Upsiders!

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

In her new book "Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth" Professor Joanna Moncrieff exposes how millions have been misled to believe they have brain chemical imbalances requiring drug treatments when no evidence supports this view.

• Depression is a normal human emotional response to life difficulties, not a brain disease
• The "drug-centered" model recognizes psychiatric medications as mind-altering substances that temporarily mask symptoms rather than targeting disease processes 
• Disease awareness campaigns funded by pharmaceutical companies deliberately changed public perception of distress as medical conditions
• Scientific studies showing minimal differences between antidepressants and placebos are systematically misinterpreted to support the disease model
• The psychiatric establishment responds to criticism by attacking messengers rather than addressing evidence
• Alternative approaches should focus on understanding distress in context of people's lives rather than medicating normal emotions
• Recent progress in recognizing withdrawal effects and persistent side effects shows growing awareness of medication risks

Website: www.joannamoncrieff.com

X: @joannamoncrieff

Bio:

JOANNA MONCRIEFF is Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and a consultant psychiatrist for the National Health Service in London. She is author of numerous scientific paper and several books on psychiatry and psychiatric drugs. She is a founder member and co-chairperson of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an influential network of psychiatrists and other doctors. Her latest book is “Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth” (publisher Flint Books), featured in The Sunday Times.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/

Send us a message!

Dr. Sheri Johnson shares groundbreaking research on how circadian rhythms and reward sensitivity affect bipolar symptoms, offering practical approaches to wellness through lifestyle interventions. Her work at UC Berkeley's CALM program explores how time-restricted eating and Mediterranean diet patterns can strengthen body rhythms and improve mood stability.

• Bipolar symptoms affect circadian rhythms, with genetic factors influencing clock genes throughout the body
• Time-restricted eating (consuming food within a consistent 10-hour window) helps reset disrupted body clocks
• The Mediterranean diet provides essential nutrients for brain health without rigid restrictions
• Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin production, making sleep difficulties worse
• Small, incremental habit changes are more sustainable than overwhelming lifestyle overhauls
• People with bipolar symptoms often have heightened reward sensitivity that can be both a gift (creativity, drive) and challenge
• Including people with lived experience in research design improves treatment approaches
• Mindfulness, journaling, and relaxation techniques can help manage nighttime awakening

Visit calm.Berkeley.edu/participate to learn about participating in current studies on time-restricted eating, Mediterranean diet, or the upcoming study on reward sensitivity and circadian rhythms.

Instagram: @ucbcalmprogram 

Facebook: The CALM Program at UC Berkeley 

X:  @calmprogram

Bluesky:  @ucbcalmprogram

Tiktok: @ucbcalmprogram

Bio:

Dr. Johnson is the Director of the Cal Mania (CALM) Program at the University of California Berkeley. She has received funding from NARSAD, NIMH, NSF, and NCI.  She has published six books and over 300 manuscripts. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association for Behavioral Medicine Research, and the Association for Psychological Science, and the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2013-2014). 

Her work focuses on circadian rhythms, impulsivity and reward sensitivity in bipolar disorder. She has used a broad range of techniques, from neuroimaging to cognitive and behavioral testing and personality tests, to understand these mechanisms.  Drawing on basic science, she has conducted treatment development research to target these dimensions.

FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/

 The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree

website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/

email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/

TikTok: theupsideofbipolar (@theupsideofbipolar) | TikTok

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theupsideofbipolar/