How You Can Help Your Bipolar Loved Ones | Michelle Reittinger

Dear esteemed listeners, join us now as we welcome our distinguished guest, Michelle Reittinger. When she received a bipolar disorder diagnosis just one month before graduating from college, it felt like a daunting life sentence. She absorbed three key messages:

- Bipolar is a chemical imbalance,

- Bipolar is comparable to diabetes, with medication equated to insulin, and

- Bipolar is deemed chronic and incurable.

Wholeheartedly embracing these beliefs and lacking alternative guidance, she diligently pursued conventional treatment, attending every psychiatric appointment and adhering to a variety of psychotropic medications, even at times juggling seven different prescriptions. Despite these efforts, none proved effective, and her mood swings and symptoms intensified, attributing this to the perceived natural progression of her "disease."

As a sense of hopelessness settled in, her despair deepened, exacerbated by the toll her mental health was taking on her life and relationships, notably with her husband and young children. The ability to work dwindled, and she found herself gradually losing the capacity to care for both herself and her family.

To explore Michelle's journey further, please visit her website: [myupsideofdown.com/free](https://myupsideofdown.com/free/).

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