Breaking the STIGMA around Bipolar (Sara Benbassat)

What is it like to live with Bipolar? If you are struggling with a mental illness it can feel incredibly isolating because of the stigma attached to your diagnosis. Today we have an incredible guest, Sara Benbassat, who generously shares her story in order to break the shame around Bipolar and humanize the experience that many people face. One of the goals of Hope to Recharge is to break the stigma around mental illness. As Sara mentions in today’s episode, mental struggles are more common than we may like to admit and it is likely that if you do not struggle personally, there is someone in your family that does. One of the ways that we can break the stigma is to hold space for the experiences and stories of others. Sara shares about the mental health climate in London where she lives and what it was like when she first started experiencing signs of her illness. She walks us through her journey of having psychotic episodes, being admitted into a hospital, and the pain of being taken away from her daughter. We walk through navigating relationships and discovering your identity after experiencing trauma. Sara also talks about the process of forgiving and giving yourself grace during difficult times. As she says, “everything is a process” and although the journey can be long, you do not have to suffer in silence. We hope this story brings you clarity about the diagnosis of Bipolar whether you are walking through it yourself or you have a loved one who is. The journey does not have to be walked through alone. We would love to support you. Simply head over to Facebook and type in “Hope to Recharge” and you will find our private community. Because as always, together is better!   Sara’s Blog: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/86036675   --   Today's episode of Hope to Recharge is sponsored by https://Betterhelp.com/hopetorecharge.    Betterhelp.com is the world’s leading provider of online therapy. Their mission is to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, and convenient, so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help, anytime, anywhere. Head to https://Betterhelp.com/hopetorecharge for 10% off your first month of services. IMPORTANT: Be sure to click this link in order to get the10% off code   --   Interested in joining our monthly Mastermind?  Find out more info here! www.hopetorecharge.com/Mastermind   --   Topics Discussed: Why having a diagnosis can help you better accept yourself and begin to heal Managing relationships after a difficult diagnosis Learning to forgive yourself and overcome the shame of mental illness --   Suicide Hotlines: USA: 1-800-273-8255 USA Crisis Text: 741-741Canada: 1-833-456-4566 United Kingdom: 116-123 Australia: 13-11-14 International Suicide Hotlines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines --   Connect with us! Website: https://hopetorecharge.com/ Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2079694042156503/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matanajacobs/ --   WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST ______________________ Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review.  It costs nothing. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-to-recharge/id1464788845 ————————————————————————— Spread the word via social media.   It costs nothing. Our website is https://hopetorecharge.com/ our FB is https://www.facebook.com/groups/2079694042156503/ and our Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/matanajacobs/ --------------------------------------------------------   Subscribe to us on: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-to-recharge/id1464788845 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00AIhRZOxKNOvenz32gGeK Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/heather-parady-2/hope-to-recharge Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_DkYMcco7pSrkKk6wU5p7w Google: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Izxlwulashxr3n6trjrxpjpgwce   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hope-to-recharge/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy