Show Notes
We welcome Dr. Zola Chihombori Quao 👩⚕️, a psychiatrist with unique training in addiction, family medicine in the podcast Bipolar Talks 🎤. Dr. Zola joins us to explore the critical intersection of bipolar disorder, addiction, and underserved care.
Together, we delve into the complex world of addiction, exploring its roots in the brain's reward system 🧬 and why individuals with bipolar disorder are about four times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Dr. Zola shares invaluable insights on how both manic and depressive mood episodes can fuel self-medication , the long-term effects on the brain , and the life-threatening dangers of withdrawing from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines without support. We also tackle the significant barriers of shame and stigma that prevent many from seeking help ❤️.
This episode is a vital resource for anyone looking to understand the dual challenge of managing bipolar disorder and addiction, offering practical, compassionate strategies for recovery and harm reduction ✅. Dr. Zola provides a clear, integrated perspective on treatment, emphasizing the need to address mood and substance use together rather than as separate problems. She shares tangible advice on creating safety plans , navigating social triggers , and building a supportive environment to foster wellbeing 🌿.
I invite you to listen to this insightful conversation to discover how an integrated and compassionate approach can transform lives and empower individuals to reclaim their health journey 🧭.
More from Bipolar Talk
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What does long-term stability with bipolar disorder actually look like?
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Would you know what to ask if you were considering joining a clinical trial?
Suzanne Dang experienced her first psychotic episode at 14 and has since been hospitalized around ten times. For years, she believed that hospitalization might be the only way for her to get better. Today, Suzanne is a lived-experience mental health worker, peer worker, speaker, advocate and artist. She now uses her experience of bipolar type 1 and schizoaffective disorder to help others believe that recovery is possible. In this deeply personal conversation, Suzanne and I discuss psychosis, hearing voices, hospitalization, medication and the gradual process of rebuilding a meaningful life. Suzanne also explains how work gave her hope and purpose—but why she eventually reduced her hours to protect her stability. Together, we explore boundaries, burnout, self-stigma, supportive workplaces and the importance of finding an individual path to recovery. As Suzanne puts it: “One bad day does not mean that you’re going to have a bad rest of your life.” Discover Suzanne’s work: https://www.suzanne-dang.com/ Watch her videos: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannedang Content warning: this episode discusses suicide, psychosis, hospitalization and sexual violence. It shares personal experiences and does not replace professional medical advice.