this is bipolar

In this episode, Shaley Hoogendoorn and Dr. Andrea Vassilev discuss the impact of bipolar disorder on work life, sharing personal experiences, statistics, and practical strategies for managing employment challenges. They aim to provide support and insights for those living with bipolar and navigating the workplace.

Chapters

(00:08:16) Managing Symptoms and Work Challenges

(00:12:18) Symptoms That Can Affect Work Performance

(00:15:...

In this deeply personal episode of This Is Bipolar, Dr. Andrea Vassilev sits down with Shaley Hoogendoorn for an honest conversation about one of the most difficult and unexpected years of Shaley's life.

Shaley opens up about the sudden end of her marriage, how she discovered that her life was about to change, and what it has been like to navigate the shock, grief, and trauma of a divorce she never saw coming. Andrea helps Shaley l...

Living with bipolar disorder can look different for everyone, but one thing many people share is the pressure to pretend they're okay when they're struggling.

In this honest conversation, Shaley Hoogendoorn sits down with returning guest Lee Formella to talk about what it's has been like living with bipolar disorder as a man. Together they discuss late diagnosis, learning acceptance, manag...

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 stability while traveling, ensuring ...

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 Self-Stigma, Break Free from 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 stories of jobs that worked, jobs that d...

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 ...

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 medication, and the complexity of naviga...

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 disorder.

Sarah shar...

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 sh...

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 fo...

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, oversha...

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 disor...

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.

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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 holidays. From laugh-out-loud ...

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 honest personal storie...

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, sleep strategies, and setting ex...

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 episode is from the vault an...

(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 friends and loved ones—keep reachi...