EPI 196: The Bipolar Brain: From Broken to Blessed with Sara Schley
According to the World Health Organization, bipolar disorder is one of the top three causes of hospitalization in people aged 15 to 44. It’s estimated that 5% of the world’s population is on the bipolar spectrum and of that 5%, only 1 to 2% are diagnosed. And while those percentages may seem small, with over 8 billion people currently in the world, we are talking about over 400 million people with bipolar brains.
It’s far more common than you think. In the US alone, around 4.4% of adults deal with or develop bipolar disorder, and the numbers show it impacts more females than males.
I sat down with author and filmmaker Sara Schley to talk about her experience with bipolar disorder and how she has turned what she calls her broken into a blessing as she serves the world by spreading knowledge and resources for those who believe there’s little hope out there. In fact, that’s the furthest from the truth. So, whether you have a diagnosis, know someone who does, or has it genetically within your family, this moving, impactful conversation is filled with understanding, truths, science, and community.
Let’s dive in…
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction
03:10 Understanding Sara’s why and the bipolar spectrum
08:11 Bipolar 1, 2, and why most doctors get it wrong
16:13 The stigma and research showing the positive of bipolar
22:07 The stamp of “I am broken…”
29:24 The 4 EMTs – Emergency Mental Health Toolkit
37:29 There are simple diagnostics available & the BrainStorm the Memoir
43:07 The practices that help calm the brain
47:29 Activating events that trigger bipolar and the research
48:22 Bipolar Pride! and how Sara got there
51:55 BrainStorm the Film
54:43 Sara’s three gratitudes
I sit in awe of Sara and her journey. She is truly the definition of what it means to take circumstance and turn it into power. If you would like to connect with Sara or purchase her book, her website is Saraschley.com. You can also purchase her book at all major retailers or click: BrainStorm the Memoir . You can also find the film at brainstormthefilm.com or on Ig @brainstormthefilm.
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