Living with Bipolar Disorder

The podcast episode shares the personal experience of author Naomi Jackson, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018. She discusses the profound impact the diagnosis had on her life, challenging her assumptions about herself and transforming the way she navigated the world. Jackson opens up about the intense shifts in mood characteristic of bipolar disorder, from periods of mania to episodes of depression, and the lifelong nature of the condition. She also explores the intersection of mental illness and race, reflecting on the challenges of deciphering rational fears from paranoid thoughts, especially as a Black woman. Jackson highlights the pressure to present a professional self, even while experiencing a personal unraveling, as a means of self-protection against racism and stigma.