Bipolar Disorder and Addiction Recovery: How Zane Found Humor and Hope

What does it look like to live through bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts—and still find hope?

In this episode, comedian and rapper Zane Thomas shares his raw and unfiltered story of mental illness and recovery. From battling substance abuse to learning how to “talk back” to depression, Zane uses humor and honesty to break stigma and show what healing really looks like.

He also reveals why asking someone “What are you excited for?” can be a more powerful lifeline than “Are you okay?”—and how small shifts in language can open the door to meaningful conversations about mental health.

This is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, that depression’s lies are not the truth, and that laughter can be a tool for survival.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Zane’s lived experience with bipolar disorder, depression, and addiction
• How depression lies and repeats the same script to everyone
• Using humor as a tool for healing and connection
• The dangers of alcohol and substance abuse with bipolar disorder
• The turning point: losing a friend and spiraling further into addiction
• How self-talk and “talking back” to dark thoughts became a coping tool
• Why “What are you excited for?” is a life-saving question
• The role of music, comedy, and community in recovery

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Zane Thomas and his story
 02:09 - Viral Instagram post on suicidal thoughts
 04:23 - Talking back to depression like a bully
 06:49 - Realizing depression tells everyone the same lies
 07:57 - Humor as a coping strategy for mental health
 09:05 - When depression comes from “nowhere”
 10:37 - The power of the word “yet” in recovery
 11:42 - Music, comedy, and creativity shaped by illness
 12:35 - Substance abuse as a coping mechanism
 13:31 - Losing a friend and spiraling deeper into addiction
 14:29 - The toxic relationship between alcohol and bipolar disorder
 15:28 - Gambling with alcohol and emotions
 16:54 - Offering to listen before it’s too late
 17:01 - Asking “What are you excited for?” as a mental health tool
 18:00 - Breaking stigma by keeping conversations real

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