TW: self-harm, bipolar disorder, psychosis, suicidal thoughts  Today Maryellen is joined by a special guest, bipolar advocate Tatyana Frost. Tatyana runs the popular Instagram account, @havingbipolar, and opens up to the OKAY-ISH community about her journey of acceptance and advocacy. The two discuss:  

Tatyana’s first experience talking about her diagnosis 

Starting her Instagram during quarantine 

How she felt when she was first diagnosed 

Her parent’s reaction to the diagnosis and their relationship  

How disorders such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD are widely accepted and discussed, but bipolar didn’t make it on the “acceptance train”  

How, while a lifelong condition, bipolar disorder is still treatable 

The importance of taking your medication when you have bipolar disorder 

How Tatyana keeps herself stable 

How the introduction of lithium changed the game for bipolar disorder  

What psychosis means and how it can manifest 

Advice for someone who was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder 

Advice for family members of someone who was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder 

Be sure to follow Tatyana on Instagram @havingbipolar.   If you haven’t already, please follow, rate, and review the podcast, and follow your host on Instagram @maryellendance. To submit questions or stories, send her a DM! Plus, be sure to check out maryellendance.com for more resources.