What NOT to Do When Living with Depression or Bipolar Disorder

Coping with a mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder isn’t just about what you should do — it’s also about avoiding behaviors that can sabotage recovery. In this episode, guest Catherine Ponti shares her personal journey of living with bipolar disorder and the hard lessons she’s learned about behaviors that made her healing more difficult.

From denial and dismissal to medication non-adherence and reckless choices, Catherine’s story sheds light on the six most common mistakes people make when coping with mental illness. By sharing her experiences openly, she helps others recognize harmful patterns and take proactive steps toward recovery.

If you’ve ever felt “stuck” in your mental health journey, this episode offers both cautionary tales and a message of hope: with the right support, treatment adjustments, and mindset, recovery is possible.

Link to NAMI blog article: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/January-2019/Coping-with-Mental-Illness-What-Not-to-Do

Link to ForLikeMinds resources: https://www.forlikeminds.com/

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why “what not to do” is just as important as traditional mental health advice
• Catherine’s experience with severe bipolar disorder and hospitalizations
• How a medication change transformed her recovery
• Six harmful behaviors to avoid when coping with mental illness
• The role of denial, dismissal, and recklessness in blocking progress
• Why self-belief and peer support communities matter for recovery

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and introduction
 01:26 - Shifting focus: what NOT to do in coping with mental illness
 01:55 - Catherine’s journey with bipolar disorder and recovery challenges
 02:50 - The impact of ineffective treatment and changing psychiatrists
 04:16 - How a new medication regimen changed everything
 05:19 - Six behaviors to avoid: starting with treatment ambivalence
 06:53 - Taking ownership in your own recovery process
 08:16 - The dangers of denial and dismissal
 09:38 - Ignorance and refusal to learn about your condition
 09:45 - Medication non-adherence and its consequences
 10:31 - Recklessness and relapse risk
 11:24 - Overcoming being “stuck” through peer support and self-belief
 12:26 - Catherine’s online community: For Like Minds
 12:51 - Podcast anniversary and gratitude to listeners
 13:21 - Closing reflections and hope

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