Inside Bipolar

Do you have trouble remembering things? Do you not think as quickly as you used to or as you would like? Does your memory or ability to focus often feel “foggy?” Do you think it may be caused by bipolar disorder?  It could be your medication, or aging, or drinking, or something else entirely – but how do you know? Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss the frustrating symptoms of brain fog and cog...

Bipolar disorder is difficult to manage and it doesn’t just affect the person with the disorder. The entire family is involved, often negatively. Unfortunately, more often than not, no one takes a greater hit than mothers.   In this episode, our host Gabe Howard’s mom shares the early signs of bipolar disorder, what it was like to deal with teenage angst on top of serious and persistent mental ill...

No one wants to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, though being prepared could make it easier to manage. But how do you prepare for such a thing? Whether you have been admitted in the past or just want to feel better prepared for the possibility, this episode dives deep.  Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole share advice on how to be legally prepared (what on earth is a psychiatric advance directive...

In our society, alcoholic beverages are very common, and since people living with bipolar disorder are just like everyone else, they absorb the same messaging surrounding drinking. From the simple wedding toast to “wine o’clock” and “beer thirty” to celebrate the end of a long work day, imbibing a drink is as common as breathing. But is this the best choice for people managing bipolar disorder?  I...

Often, when discussing hypomania in bipolar disorder, it is described as “just like mania, but not as severe.” To the uneducated populace, this creates the idea that hypomania is not as serious and, for all practical purposes, is basically “mania light.” But is that accurate? Is hypomania simply a lesser form of mania? Or are mania and hypomania two distinct symptoms that need to be treated in uni...

Building a support system to help you manage bipolar disorder is easier said than done. In this episode, Gabe and Dr. Nicole share that a support system is helpful and give hints and tips on how to build your team. They discuss who you should have on your support team and how to recruit them as well as who to avoid and why. They also share the five most important people they feel can offer the bes...

Last week, Gabe shared all the things his parents did wrong when it came to helping him manage his bipolar disorder. This week, he tells us some of the things his parents got right.  Dr. Nicole shares how many of her patients have tried to reconnect with estranged family members, and they both discuss ways to bring people back together. An inspiring, hopeful, and motivating episode awaits! Please...

Our host, Gabe Howard, frequently shares how his parents “did everything wrong” when getting him help for bipolar disorder. He has shared the fractures in his family, the misunderstandings, and the conflict in multiple past episodes.  In this episode, we dive into some of the specifics of his parent’s missteps and touch on what they could have done differently. Join us as Gabe openly discusses how...

Receiving a diagnosis of any major medical condition is scary. A bipolar disorder diagnosis can be even scarier. Many people may disagree, wondering if the doctor is correct.  Should you seek a second opinion and, if so, what if another doctor or mental health professional has a different perspective? Would you benefit from hearing it? Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss when and how you might...

Most of us want to get rid of depressive periods, but we aren’t as sold on getting rid of manic periods. And why should we be?   Why won’t doctors just do what we want and relieve our depression while not messing with the often incredibly enjoyable symptom of mania? Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole explain why the disorder — and the human body — just don’t work that way. To learn more -- or read the...

Are you interested in the pros and cons of using over-the-counter supplements to treat bipolar disorder? Some people are curious about them and others feel they are equivalent to prescription medications. But, what’s the reality?  Join Gabe and Dr. Nicole as they share the potential pitfalls of using supplements as a front-line treatment and discuss some of the more popular vitamins and supplement...

Many of us have been told that maintaining a consistent routine is the key to living well with bipolar disorder. But does that ever annoy you? Does it feel like you’re being treated like a child? After all, the idea of having a routine sounds like something a toddler does, not an adult.  Listen as Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss what the concept of routines gets wrong as well as what it gets right. Th...

Our host, Gabe Howard, often remarks that mania has the best public relations team in the world. Why else would mania be described as an unbelievable feeling of well-being and pure bliss? It seems mania is only ever discussed as an overwhelming positive experience.  For many people, mania doesn’t include a euphoric feeling — prompting the question, is it even mania? In fact, is there such a thing...

Our host, Gabe Howard, used to weigh over 550 pounds. These days, he maintains a healthier weight — and has done so for over 20 years. Many people, including Gabe, feel that binge eating is an example of self-medicating. Using something — in this case food — to mask the symptoms of bipolar disorder.  If you feel that you may binge-eat as a way to deal with the symptoms of bipolar disorder, this ep...

What about medical marijuana as a treatment for bipolar disorder? Now that cannabis is legal in many states, many people want to try smoking as a primary treatment method. Realistically, even before cannabis was legalized and regulated, people touted its benefits as a treatment of all kinds of mental health issues from depression to psychosis. But is it true? Join us as Gabe shares his own experie...

Are you depressed in the morning and manic in the evening? Do you think that means you are a “rapid cycler”? What if it turns out that’s not the definition at all? Listen in as Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss what rapid cycling is — and is not. As an added bonus, Dr. Nicole will tell us all about ultra rapid cycling and even ultra ultra rapid cycling. There is much to learn and a lot of nuance to unpa...

About 50% of women with bipolar disorder receive their diagnosis after the birth of a child — during the postpartum period. Despite that large number, there is little information available on the possibility of pregnancy triggering an initial episode of mania or other symptoms of bipolar. Jessica Ekhoff joins us as the first guest of Inside Bipolar. Ekhoff has postpartum bipolar disorder. She shar...

Bipolar disorder does have a genetic component, meaning if you have bipolar, your children are at an increased risk of having it themselves. But what does that mean on a practical basis?  How do you know if your child actually has bipolar or if you might be seeing something that isn’t there? Is the “symptom” you see an indicator or just normal teenage behavior? Join us as Dr. Nicole and Gabe discu...

Even though we all know that movies are fictional, alien robots don’t exist, and no one has magic powers, we often think pop culture portrayals of people with bipolar disorder — which are often negative — are accurate. In rare cases when people with bipolar disorder are shown as being successful, they are unrealistically successful — genius crime fighters, concert pianists, or movie stars.   Join...

We have probably done things we’re not proud of while in the midst of a bipolar episode. But it isn’t our fault, right? After all, bipolar disorder isn’t our fault.  Listen in as Gabe and Dr. Nicole explain why thinking that way could negatively impact your relationships and life. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Meet Your Inside Bipolar Podcast Ho...

We have talked a lot on this show about dating and how to start a relationship when you have bipolar disorder. But what about if you are already in one? What about those of us who aren’t dating, but are already married or in a long-term relationship?   Tune in as Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss ways to manage your condition in the context of your relationship and why your partner’s help can be invalua...

Are you happy? No matter your answer, you might be asking the wrong question. Is happiness an emotion, a state of being, a destination, or an achievement? It turns out that happiness is not as cut and dry as we’ve been led to believe.  Listen as Gabe and Dr. Nicole answer the surprisingly nuanced question: “Can people with bipolar disorder be happy? To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit...

It isn’t always possible to prevent a manic episode, but in today’s episode, we discuss possible techniques to try and stop mania in its tracks. Bipolar disorder is a cyclical illness and it’s important to remember that despite our best efforts, we can fall into mania. Join us as Dr. Nicole and Gabe discuss some strategies for preventing mania and tips for minimizing the potential damage from a ma...

You can do everything “right” and still find yourself in a depressive episode. This is largely because bipolar disorder is a cyclical illness. But what are some things you can do to minimize your chances or to break free? Join us as Gabe and Dr. Nicole give us some tips for recognizing, heading off, and even pulling out of a depressive episode. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please vis...

Should we tell children about a loved one's (or our own) bipolar disorder diagnosis? Just like discussing sex with children, talking with kids about mental illness is fraught with difficulty. But does it need to be? In this episode, Gabe and Dr. Nicole discuss when kids are old enough to be told, what you should tell them, and why it may be dangerous to avoid the topic. To learn more -- or read th...