Friends, today I am so happy to introduce you to a woman who is helping to change the stigma of mental illness. Jenn Marshall shares about her first manic episode in 2006 which landed her in the psychiatric hospital and later resulted in a diagnosis of Type 1 Bipolar Disorder and forced her to retire from her job. This put her into deep depression and anxiety as she had felt that she had lost her identity. Jenn would experience three more manic episodes and hospitalizations, all while being off of her medication and deprived of sleep, two of which were associated with trying to protect her children. She shares what a manic episode looks and feels like and what her treatment plan is. Jenn shares how after she began to control her symptoms she turned to blogging as a way to share with other moms that the they too could realize their dreams of having a family, even with bipolar disorder. She tells why she wrote only under the pseudonym Bipolar Mom Life for several years and how it felt to first attribute her real name to an article she published. She shares the inspiration for the non-profit she co-founded called This is My Brave which hosts shows across the country, providing a stage for those suffering from mental illness to express their story through art and storytelling. Jenn also offers up 3 suggestions on how someone struggling with mental illness can handle what they are going through and have hope for their future. You will be inspired by her bravery which has allowed so many others to share theirs.
Want to know if this episode it for you? This episode is perfect for someone who suffers from a mental illness, particularly bipolar disorder or for someone who has a loved one who suffers or wants to understand it better. It is perfect for someone who wants to learn more about how they can have hope for a symptom managed life with a mental illness and one that will allow them to have the family they have dreamed of. It is also good for someone who believes in the power of vulnerability and the sharing of stories to connect one another and who would want to attend a This is My Brave show or watch it on YouTube.
What is this episode about? In this episode you will learn about:
- Jenn’s first manic episode – what it felt and looked like, what brought it on, what the psychiatrist said, and what happened because of it
- why Jenn had to retire from her job
- the effects of depression and anxiety on her life
- what her diagnosis was after the manic episodes
- what the symptoms are of hypomania, mania, and psychosis
- what brought on her third and fourth manic episodes due to trying to protect her children
- what she was like when she was hospitalized
- the mood scale and why you want to be in the middle
- how she has been close to symptom free for years
- how she drew strength from reading others’ stories and why she turned to blogging to share her story
- why she began writing under a pseudonym
- what happened when her article went on the front page of AOL and how she felt about using her real name
- how her readership responded to her using her real name
- what sparked her idea to start This is My Brave and why she chose the format of a live show
- what is her goals with This is My Brave
- what is the format and how you can participate in the show
- the “me too” phenomenon and is effect on those attending the show
- the one experience she has had with someone attending the show that has made it all worth it
- why she believes storytelling saves lives
- the power of vulnerability and the sharing of one’s story to create connection
- one presentation from This is My Brave that struck her hard and why
- statistics about mental illness
- her vision for the growth of This is My Brave
- how you can participate or view a show
- three things that those struggling with mental illness can do to help handle what they are going through and to have hope in their future
Show Notes:
“What to Expect” article- 5 reasons exercise keeps me out of the psych ward
Boston Globe article on trichotillomania
Danielle Fiorello’s presentation
Washington Post article “Unwell and unashamed”
Jenn’s Instagram @bipolarmomlife
Jenn’s Instagram @thisismybrave
This is My Brave YouTube channel
This is My Brave Facebook page
O, Oprah Magazine article, “The Beautiful Way These People Are Coming Out About Mental Illness”
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Thank you so much, Briana, for having me on your beautiful podcast! I loved meeting you and getting to know more about your story. You are such a warm and loving soul and I’m so glad we connected. xoxo
Jenn I absolutely loved getting to know you more. You have an incredible mission and will change and save so many lives by what you are putting into motion. You truly live out the word “brave”. I hope that we can meet here within the next year as you bring your show out here;)