Today, I sit down with Madelynn to talk about major depression, which she's battled since high school--nearly 40 years. Madelynn doesn't hold back when discussing suicidal ideation during the pandemic and how difficult it is to live through ideation in an anxious body or to handle a body that just feels flat and void of any emotions.

But Madelynn's now equipped with a plan to catch these early signs of depression by reaching out to friends, writing notes from a happier self, getting good support and a little bit of alchemy, bringing her a remedy along the way.

I am in awe of Madelynn's honesty and her practice of finding hope. We get into a conversation about what it's like for our generation to handle mental illness and how it varies greatly with the current "out and proud" approach with our youth.

We also discuss the emotional toll of contrasting the lives we dreamed of with the quieter, more introspective lives we now lead.

PS The Kahlil Gibran poem Madelynn refers to is titled: "On Joy and Sorrow."

Enjoy,
Janine

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Help Bipolar She Today! Buy Me A Coffee is a platform for podcasters to receive support, even if just a micro-donation. It's finally time to grow! Let's amplify voices of mental illness in all their raw details.

Bipolar She is dedicated to real conversations for women living with mental illness. Hosted by Janine Noel, the majority of episodes give voice to a woman who has lived-life experience with mental illness--or who has experienced the illness of someone close to them. Along the way, I interview experts in the field that address additional mental health concerns.

Frankly, coping with a mental health condition can be exhausting. Here's a place where you can land and find an episode that resonates with you. Some topics we've covered: being a bipolar mom or having a bipolar mom. Anxiety, agoraphobia, chronic depression, ECT, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, a psychiatrist that breaks your trust. A therapist who goes above and beyond to help you. The impact of trauma on your brain. 

Bipolar She couldn't have thrived without guitarist, JD Cullum's original music.

Editor Brandon Moran makes everyone's voice sound both crisper and smarter.

Sponsored by Amy Vincze's Emotional Freedom Technique App: Soar With Tapping.

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