Show Notes
Living with bipolar disorder and addiction often feels like walking a tightrope. Mood swings, substances used to cope, relapses, shame, and isolation can slowly convince you that there’s no way out. In this episode of Bipolar Talk, we sit down with Andy Dukeshire, a licensed addiction therapist based in Los Angeles, sober for 19 years, who has spent nearly two decades helping people navigate addiction and bipolar disorder together. In this conversation, we explore: why bipolar disorder and addiction are so closely linked
why stopping a substance is not about willpower
the critical role of psychoeducation in recovery
how long-term stability actually works (and why it takes time)
how to prevent relapse after hospitalization or crisis
repairing relationships — including forgiving yourself
and most importantly: how to rebuild hope when you feel broken
👉 This episode is for you if: you live with bipolar disorder
you struggle (or have struggled) with addiction
you are a loved one or caregiver
you work in mental health
💚 At HopeStage, we believe recovery is possible when people are given the right tools, clear information, and real human connection. 📩 Need support or want to reach out? Leave a comment or contact us — you are not alone.
More from Bipolar Talk
Why does the same medication affect people differently? In this episode of Bipolar Talk, Clement Baissat sits down with Dr. Leticia Shea, PharmD, a medication expert specializing in pharmacogenomics and precision medicine. They discuss the role pharmacists can play in mental health care, from helping patients understand their prescriptions and side effects to identifying medication interactions and supporting better treatment decisions. The conversation then moves into pharmacogenomics — the study of how our genes can influence the way we metabolize medications. Leticia explains how differences in genes such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 can affect how the body processes certain drugs, and how this knowledge could contribute to more personalized treatment. Clement and Leticia also talk openly about bipolar disorder, depression, medication adherence, side effects, the challenges of stopping treatment, and why mental health care often needs to be personalized to the individual. A conversation about medication, genetics, mental health, and the future of precision medicine. 🎙️ Bipolar Talk with Clement Baissat & Leticia Shea Topics discussed: • The role of pharmacists in mental health • Medication management • Side effects and drug interactions • Bipolar disorder and depression • Pharmacogenomics • CYP2D6 & CYP2C19 • Precision medicine • Personalized treatment • Communicating with your psychiatrist, GP, and pharmacist This episode is for educational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice. Speak with your healthcare professional before making changes to your medication.
What does long-term stability with bipolar disorder actually look like?
What does long-term stability with bipolar disorder actually look like? Michael Schneider has lived with bipolar disorder for decades—and has gone 26 years without another manic episode. But getting there wasn't simple. In this episode of Bipolar Talk, Michael shares the turning point that changed his relationship with bipolar disorder: learning to take ownership of his illness and becoming intentional about the habits that helped protect his stability. We talk about sleep, medication, therapy, discipline, substances, early warning signs, asking for help, and the difficult reality of accepting that bipolar disorder doesn't simply disappear. Michael also opens up about the years when he repeatedly cycled through hospitalization and recovery, why he once saw mania as exciting, and what finally made him realize that the pattern had to change. We also explore: • Why sleep can become an important warning sign • How Michael built his personal “toolbox” for stability • Why consistency matters • The risks he associates with alcohol and drugs • Why reaching out for help takes courage • How stigma affects people living with bipolar disorder • What Michael would tell his younger self • What he wants newly diagnosed people to understand • Whether stability is a skill or a personality trait A candid conversation about bipolar disorder, responsibility, acceptance, hope, and building a sustainable life. 🎙️ Michael Schneider 🎤 Clement Baissat 🎧 Bipolar Talk
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.