131: Upside of Down

Being a mother is one of the most rewarding experiences, but is also one of the most difficult things you can do. Pair that with mental health issues, like bipolar disorder, and it adds another set of challenges. Dealing with bipolar on your own is one thing, then having to manage it while being responsible for the care of others is something we don’t talk about enough. Yes it’s challenging, but it can also be highly motivating to get the help you need. Our guest on today’s episode has lived with bipolar disorder for 22 years and is also a mother and wife. Michelle Rittinger joins us to share what her path to wellness has looked like. She inevitably struggled, but she took the challenges of her disorder and motherhood and made it work for her. Climbing out of her lowest moments with her daughter as her inspiration, she is now able to cope with her bipolar disorder in a healthy way and wants to share how she did it with other mothers with bipolar disorder. Tune in to hear Michelle’s journey of overcoming some of the lowest moments of her life and learn how she created a mental health emergency response plan to manage her episodes. Topics discussed in this episode: Michelle’s experience with bipolar Struggles with accepting bipolar Michelle’s turning point on her path to wellness Coping mechanisms when dealing with bipolar disorder How Michelle put a plan in place for her bipolar episodes The impact a parent’s bipolar has on children Understanding early warning signs of an episode The unique challenges with bipolar as a mother How Michelle is giving back to mothers with her blog posts Connect with Michel: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Paris: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn To hear more episodes, visit Apple podcasts.  Be sure to write a review and let me know your thoughts on the show!