this is bipolar

In this powerful World Bipolar Day episode, host Shaley is joined by mental health advocates Rudy and Tatyana to unpack the realities of hypomania and mania—often misunderstood, sometimes romanticized, and deeply complex experiences within bipolar disorder. Through raw storytelling, they explore early warning signs, grandiosity, sleep disruption, sensory changes, and the fine line between productivity and danger. They also share vulnerable moments around diagnosis, paranoia, delusions, and the emotional aftermath of manic episodes. This conversation sheds light on why mania is often missed, how it differs from hypomania, and the importance of tracking symptoms, building support systems, and creating preventative care plans. Whether you live with bipolar disorder or support someone who does, this episode brings clarity, honesty, and hope.

 

Timestamps (Key Moments):

(00:00:00) Introduction & why mania/hypomania are often misunderstood

(00:05:30) Rudy’s first manic episode & recognizing the signs

(00:12:45) Grandiosity & feeling “like your true self” during mania

(00:20:10) Tatiana’s early warning signs & rapid speech

(00:26:40) Delusions, paranoia & losing touch with reality

(00:36:15) Sleep disruption, time loss & hyperfixation

(00:48:20) The crash: depression after mania & emotional impact

(01:05:50) Coping strategies, prevention & support systems

In this powerful and practical conversation, Shaley sits down with therapist and author Diana Partington to unpack what Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) actually is—and why it can be a game-changer for people living with bipolar disorder.

Diana shares her deeply personal story of living with suicidality for decades before discovering DBT, the therapy that finally gave her the “toolbox” she had been searching for. Together, Shaley and Diana explore how DBT differs from traditional CBT, why mindfulness doesn’t mean “emptying your mind,” and how skills like Wise Mind, emotional regulation, and the PLEASE skill can help stabilize mood, increase awareness, and create buffer zones before episodes escalate.

This episode is a relatable, stigma-breaking look at learning skills after years of thinking you already should know them—and how small, practical tools can make a life-saving difference.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone with bipolar disorder, or looking for concrete strategies that actually work in real life, this conversation brings hope, validation, and actionable insight.

⏱️ Key Moments
(00:10:32) Why DBT felt different from every therapy Diana had tried before
(00:13:48) The “toolbox” metaphor—and why skills matter more than insight alone
(00:18:21) How DBT was originally developed to treat suicidality, not just diagnoses
(00:22:05) The problem with CBT for highly sensitive or suicidal individuals
(00:26:40) The DBT philosophy: therapists are not the experts—you are
(00:30:12) Understanding Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind
(00:34:55) Can you access Wise Mind during bipolar symptoms? Practical realities
(00:39:18) Catching hypomania early: recognizing patterns “at the beginning of the curve”
(00:44:02) The PLEASE skill explained—why sleep, medication, and routine are foundational
(00:49:27) Mindfulness redefined: it’s not meditation, it’s learning to observe your mind

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. If this episode or podcast means something to you, I would be forever grateful if you could give a five star review so it can reach people that need it. 

You can also share this conversation with someone who could use a few more tools in their toolbox—and remember: skills can be learned at any stage of the journey.

We have a peer support group on instagram  and you are invited to connect on IG: @this.is.bipolar

Want to connect or work with Shaley? email [email protected]  

Buy "DBT for Life" by Diana Partington here  

Register for Online Workshops 

 

More about Diana: 

Diana Partington is a licensed professional counselor and author of DBT for Life: Skills to transform the way you live. She offers online DBT skills classes, workshops, and training for clients and clinicians across North America. She wrote her master’s thesis at Vanderbilt on effectively teaching DBT skills for different learning styles. Passionate about making DBT skills accessible to everyone, Diana also speaks at major conferences and provides bespoke training for mental health professionals. Her website, DBTforLife.com (https://dbtforlife.com/talking-and-training/www.DBTforLife.com), is a hub of information about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, her educational offerings, 
her book, and her podcast "Suffering Optional: DBT and the Dharma" You can also connect with Diana on IG @sufferingoptional.

In this heartfelt and hope-filled episode of This Is Bipolar, Shaley and Dr. Andrea Vassilev meet in real life for the very first time in Los Angeles and dive deep into one of the most meaningful (and complicated) topics when living with bipolar disorder: friendships.

Together, they explore how bipolar disorder can impact connection, consistency, communication, and trust — from ghosting during depression to intensity, oversharing, and irritability during hypomania or mania. They talk openly about shame, grief, self-stigma, and the fear of being “too much,” while also highlighting the incredible strengths people with bipolar bring to friendships: empathy, loyalty, creativity, and deep emotional insight.

This episode also offers practical guidance for:

Navigating disclosure with friends

Asking for what you actually need during different mood states

Supporting loved ones with bipolar (and letting them support you)

Finding peer connection through bipolar communities and support groups

Above all, this conversation is a reminder that you are worthy of friendship, connection, and love — exactly as you are.

 6 Important Timestamps

(00:03:40) — Meeting online, becoming real-life friends & why bipolar friendships matter

(00:08:55) — How depression affects consistency, ghosting, and friendships

(00:17:30) — Hypomania, intensity, irritability & how it can strain relationships

(00:25:45) — Grief, shame, oversharing & repairing friendships after episodes

(00:32:40) — Disclosure: how, when, and why telling friends can help

(00:44:50) — Reframing self-stigma & recognizing what makes you a great friend

Connect with us:

IG @this.is.bipolar

Youtube: this is bipolar channel

TT @this.is.bipolar

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter at thisisbipolar.com to get a free "Bipolar Travel Toolkit" PDF to help you prepare ahead and manage bipolar disorder while traveling. 

Chapter Markers:

(00:02:58) Andrea's Upcoming Book

(00:03:07) Andrea's Trip to Japan

(00:10:35) Medication Challenges

(00:14:20) Importance of Prevention

(00:16:26) Conference Experience

(00:21:11) Planning for Business Trips

(00:27:04) Post Travel Reflections

(00:28:17) Shaley's Camping Trip

(00:34:17) Balancing Expectations

(00:37:23) Memorable Moments

_________________________________________________________________

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. If this episode or podcast means something to you, I would be forever grateful if you would follow/subscribe the ‘this is bipolar’ podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so you stay up to date. It would also mean the world to me if you gave a 5 ⭐️ star review- this helps the podcast reach those who need to hear it most. 

Much love, Shaley xo 

More about your Host:

Shaley Hoogendoorn is a speaker, content creator and currently hosts the popular “this is bipolar” vlog and podcast. She lives with bipolar 2 disorder and shares her story and the stories of others to dismantle the stigma around mental illness. Shaley’s greatest hope is that creating safe spaces to connect will give hope and comfort those that struggle.

Meet our Guest Co-Host:

Dr. Andrea Vassilev holds a doctorate in psychology, is a therapist in California, and has lived with bipolar disorder for over 25 years. Andrea is the creator of the program Overcoming Self-Stigma in Bipolar Disorder and serves on the Board of Directors of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. As a clinician and academic with lived experience, Andrea brings a special perspective to both her professional and advocacy work. Andrea hopes that by telling her own story of life with bipolar disorder through the lenses of clinical causes, treatments, and outcomes that she can provide education, hope, and comfort to others. You can connect with her on Instagram @best.life.bipolar or at www.andreavassilev.com. Be sure to pre-order Dr. Andrea's book - releases July 1st 2026

Beyond the Bipolar Label: A Workbook to Overcome Self-Stigma, Break Free from Shame and Live Authentically

In this deeply honest episode of this Is bipolar, Shaley sits down with a guest Jess who shares her lived experience of being diagnosed with bipolar I after antidepressant-induced mania and psychosis in college — and what it took to rebuild a life of stability, work, love, and motherhood.

Together, they unpack what psychosis and mania actually feel like in the body, how symptoms can be rooted in reality, and why bipolar disorder is better understood as a spectrum rather than a box. The conversation moves through medication missteps, the fear of hospitalization, suicidal ideation, and the long road to finding the right psychiatrist and treatment.

They also dive deeply into parenthood with bipolar disorder — pregnancy decisions, staying on medication, sleep protection, guilt, support systems, and why putting your mental health first is putting your child first.

This episode is validating, nuanced, and full of moments that will resonate with anyone living with bipolar disorder — or loving someone who is.

this is bipolar...

Chapter markers:

(00:07:00) Childhood trauma & missed signs

(00:14:20) When psychosis first hit

(00:18:30) The phone call that saved her

(00:22:30) Living in constant cycling

(00:30:20) The meds that changed everything

(00:33:30) Inside bipolar psychosis

(00:48:30) Bipolar isn’t black & white

(01:06:00) Motherhood with bipolar

Connect with us:

IG @this.is.bipolar

Youtube: this is bipolar channel

TT @this.is.bipolar

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter at thisisbipolar.com 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. If this episode or podcast means something to you, I would be forever grateful if you would follow/subscribe the ‘this is bipolar’ podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so you stay up to date. It would also mean the world to me if you gave a 5 ⭐️ star review- this helps the podcast reach those who need to hear it most. 

Much love, Shaley xo

 

MEET JESS:

Jess Curtis was diagnosed with bipolar 1 during her sophomore year of college. After a decade of ineffective treatment and poor self-care, she achieved stability by self-advocating for better medication and making healthy lifestyle changes. 

As a bipolar advocate, Jess strives to be the friend and mentor she needed when she was first diagnosed with bipolar.

On her YouTube channel Our Bipolar (https://youtube.com/@ourbipolar), she posts videos to break stigma, offer support, and promote better understanding of bipolar disorder.

She also shares her story with high school and college students as part of NAMI's In Our Own Voice program and has been a keynote speaker at mental health events.

You can find her on Facebook and Instagram at OurBipolar. Jess lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Bryan, daughter Pearson, and dog Lucy. She works for a nonprofit as assistant managing editor for scientific journals.

BEST OF 2025

Welcome back to 'This is Bipolar,' where Shaley Hoogendoorn, a passionate mental health advocate living with Bipolar 2 disorder, invites us into a heartfelt conversation about navigating change as we head into 2025. Alongside her friend and new co-host, Dr. Andrea Vasilev, a doctor of psychology also living with bipolar, they explore the complexities of the New Year's transition for those living with bipolar disorder.

Glammed up in sparkling New Year's dresses (which you can see on the Youtube version), the duo dives into the challenges and expectations that come with the start of a new year, offering hope and alternative perspectives on how to approach personal goals and resolutions. Their stories and practical insights help shed light on managing life's pressures, accepting one's bipolar journey, and finding solidarity in shared experiences.

With emphasis on connection, self-acceptance, and redefining success, Shaley and Andrea encourage listeners to embrace their unique path, sharing methods they've employed to cultivate resilience and joy. Join them in this engaging episode, which reminds us that our stories aren't over and that there is profound strength in our shared journey.

this is bipolar...

(02:36) Welcoming Guest Co-Host

(04:15) Embracing New Years Themes

(07:54) Navigating Holiday Stress

(12:59) Body memory & bipolar

(14:53) The pressure of self-improvement

(17:35) Goals vs Resolutions

(21:16) Celebrating Small Achievements 

(27:41) Accepting bipolar disorder

(32:30) The Journey to Self-Love 

(35:45) Redefining Success

(40:29) Finding Joy in Quirkiness

(44:40) Closing Thoughts on Acceptance

Follow IG @this.is.bipolar

Youtube: this is bipolar channel

TT @this.is.bipolar

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. If this episode or podcast means something to you, I would be forever grateful if you would follow/subscribe the ‘this is bipolar’ podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so you stay up to date. It would also mean the world to me if you gave a 5 ⭐️ star review- this helps the podcast reach those who need to hear it most. 

If you are looking to connect with a caring bipolar community or a support group, you can subscribe on Instagram and be added to a peer support chat and have access to a peer support meeting every month. We would love to see you there.

Much love, Shaley xo 

 

About our guest cohost:

Dr. Andrea Vassilev holds a doctorate in psychology, is a therapist in California, and has lived with bipolar disorder for over 25 years. Andrea is the creator of the program Overcoming Self-Stigma in Bipolar Disorder and serves on the Board of Directors of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. As a clinician and academic with lived experience, Andrea brings a special perspective to both her professional and advocacy work. Andrea hopes that by telling her own story of life with bipolar disorder through the lenses of clinical causes, treatments, and outcomes that she can provide education, hope, and comfort to others. You can connect with her on Instagram @best.life.bipolar or at www.andreavassilev.com. * to hear Andrea's full story scroll back to our 'Conversations with' episode or the 'Self stigma episode".