this is bipolar

What if one of the biggest challenges of living with bipolar isn't just the symptoms—but the way we've learned to think about ourselves? In this powerful episode of this Is bipolar, Shaley Hoogendoorn welcomes back friend, psychotherapist, researcher, and bipolar advocate Dr. Andrea Vassilev to celebrate the release of her groundbreaking workbook, Beyond the Bipolar Label: A Workbook to Overcome S...

What does bipolar disorder look like at work? In this candid and relatable conversation, Shaley sits down with mental health advocate Brandon to talk about the realities of navigating employment while living with bipolar disorder. From thriving in creative environments to struggling with organization, depression, anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and workplace expectations, they share personal stori...

How to Support Someone with Bipolar Disorder (Part 1) In this deeply honest and compassionate episode of This Is Bipolar, Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft tackle one of the most requested topics from listeners: how to support someone living with bipolar disorder or another mental illness. Speaking from lived experience, they open up about the realities of being on both sides of the relationship...

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, Shaley sits down with mental health advocate, author, and peer mentor Mel to share her lived experience with bipolar disorder. Mel opens up about her early struggles, being misdiagnosed, and what it was like to experience severe depression, mania, and psychosis. She shares the reality of a nine-month depressive psychotic episode, the impact of medic...

What if the story of bipolar disorder was told not just through textbooks—but through real people, real lives, and real hope? In this deeply moving and insightful episode, Shaley sits down with author Sarah Schley and filmmaker Bonnie Weltch to talk about Brainstorm, a powerful new documentary that brings together lived experience and cutting-edge science to reshape how we understand bipolar disor...

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 producti...

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...

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 dep...

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 r...

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 t...

In this BEST of 2023 bonus episode, Coping with Christmas, mental health advocates Shaley Hoogendoorn and Charise Jewell revisit one of our most-loved holiday conversations about navigating the season while living with bipolar disorder. Shaley and Charise share personal experiences, practical strategies, and honest reflections on what has helped them manage — and sometimes even enjoy — the holiday...

In this episode of 'this is bipolar', Shaley and Andrea unpack the unique challenges of traveling and navigating the holiday season living with bipolar disorder. They explore common triggers—from disrupted routines and sensory overwhelm to family dynamics, cultural expectations, and financial pressure—while offering practical strategies for staying regulated on the road and during gatherings. With...

Join Shaley Hoogendoorn and Dr. Andrea Vassilev as they share about their TRAVEL UPDATES and what strategies they used to manage their mood disorders. Shaley and Andrea share first‑hand experiences of traveling with Bipolar this summer and fall— from attending an international conference in Japan to a family camping trip. They discuss planning, managing time‑zone changes, medication paperwork, sle...

Host Shaley Hoogendoorn and guest Jade Rose, both living with bipolar II, share honest, practical strategies for managing depression and hypomania. They discuss tiny habits — distraction, routines, gentle nudges, yoga, sleep tricks, and sensory changes — that add up to meaningful relief, and how friends and family can best offer support by holding space and creating simple action plans. This episo...

(BEST OF 2022) Tune in for part 2 of episode 19... as mental health advocates Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft as they tackle the tricky topic of supporting a loved one who is dealing with a mental health struggle. They share lived experiences about ghosting, clinginess, setting healthy boundaries, and the shame and guilt that can follow mood episodes. The episode offers practical tips for frien...

In this powerful episode of "this is bipolar," host Shaley Hoogendoorn sits down with David Funes to discuss his journey living with Bipolar I Disorder. David shares candidly about his strict religious upbringing, early trauma, and the onset of his symptoms in college. The conversation covers the highs and lows of living with bipolar disorder, including manic and depressive episodes, addiction, cr...

In this episode of This Is Bipolar, host Shaley Hoogendoorn sits down with Cuban-American spoken-word poet and mental health advocate Dailyn Santana to share her powerful lived experience with bipolar I disorder. Dailyn opens up about the earliest signs she noticed in middle school, the challenges of navigating undiagnosed symptoms, and a significant manic episode that led to hospitalization durin...

We are sharing some of our most listened to episodes once a month! In this BEST OF episode, mental health advocates Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft discuss their vastly different experiences of seeking professional help and receiving their bipolar II diagnoses. They describe when, where, and how they first heard the life-changing news, "You have bipolar disorder." It is Julie and Shaley's great...

Join hosts Shaley Hoogendoorn and Dr. Andrea Vassilev as they delve into the complexities of traveling with Bipolar Disorder in this enlightening episode of 'this is bipolar'. Together, they explore how changing time zones and disrupted routines can impact mental health, offering practical tips to manage these challenges. They share personal stories and expert insights on maintaining balance and s...

Throwing back to a heartfelt episode of "this is bipolar" with co-hosts Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft. In this episode, the duo dives deep into their personal experiences dealing with bipolar disorder and everyday anxiety. They open up about the struggles of coping with irrational fears and the constant overthinking that accompanies their bipolar journeys. Shaley and Julie candidly share thei...

 Throwback to a BEST OF episode-Join mental health advocates Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft as they tackle the tricky topic of supporting a loved one who is dealing with a mental health struggle. ... It is Julie and Shaley's greatest hope that this episode offers insight and encouragement to those with mental health struggles, as well as everyone living & loving alongside. This is bipolar....

Join hosts Shaley Hoogendoorn and Dr. Andrea Vassilev in an enlightening discussion focusing on the often misunderstood concept of mixed features. With personal anecdotes and professional insights, they unpack what it means to experience mixed episodes and how these can present in daily life. This episode sheds light on diagnostic challenges, common misconceptions, and the importance of accurate t...

In this episode, mental health advocates Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft discuss hypomania. For them, hypomania has two sides- the bright but also the dark. In this follow-up to episode 11, they share what it feels like in their minds and bodies when the destructive side of hypomania rears its head. What are the problems & pitfalls? In what ways are their lives, and the lives of those aroun...

Join Host Shaley Hoogendoorn as she interviews fellow bipolar warrior Brennan Wood about his experiences with bipolar 2 disorder. They delve into the transformative power of community and discuss the impact of peer support groups, both online and in-person. In this episode, Brennan, a bipolar advocate with a rapidly growing TikTok community, also shares his firsthand experiences within the psych w...

In this brief episode, host Shaley shares an honest update on her current battle with a challenging mixed episode of Bipolar 2 Disorder. Shaley opens up about the emotional and physical toll it has taken, offering insights into the realities of living with bipolar disorder. Amidst overwhelming feelings and fluctuating symptoms, Shaley discusses the importance of self-care, reaching out for support...