Show Notes
Rosie Viva used to travel the world as a fashion model. It wasn’t until being arrested after a psychotic episode in Stansted Airport that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
On the week of World Bipolar Day, Rosie joins Emilie on Well Enough to ask: what does the world still get wrong about bipolar, especially for women.
Rosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’ charts her journey with bipolar. She documents mania, depression and recovery all whilst navigating relationships, jobs and her new identity. In today’s episode, she also shares her one rule for drinking on medication, how to manage hypomania without losing the magic, and why thinking she was Susan Boyle for a week taught her family not to challenge delusions.
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Useful links: Rosie’s Substack Rosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’ ‘Maybe its bipolar?’ test from Bipolar UK Samaritans
Timecodes: 00:00 What Is Bipolar Disorder? Breaking Down the Basics 02:46 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bipolar: Understanding the Difference 05:21 Misdiagnosis: When Doctors Miss Bipolar in Women 08:16 The Psychotic Episode That Changed Everything 10:11 Religious Delusions & Mania: My Breaking Point 11:26 Arrested at Stansted Airport: The Baggage Drop Incident 13:01 The Shame Around Mental Illness Nobody Talks About 15:16 Getting the Right Medication: Why It Takes Time 17:26 When Therapy Goes Wrong: My NHS Experience 20:01 Managing Hypermania: Practical Tools That Work 22:16 Navigating Friendships with Bipolar Disorder 24:51 PMDD & Bipolar: The Hidden Connection for Women 27:31 Can Women with Bipolar Be Stable? The Answer Is Yes 29:56 How to Know If You Have Bipolar: First Steps 32:31 Making My Channel 4 Documentary: Telling My Story 35:26 Is My Madness Actually Magic? Reframing Bipolar 38:01 The Euphoria of Hypermania: Like Astronauts in Space 39:21 Drinking with Bipolar: My One Simple Rule Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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