Motor City Hypnotist
Motor City Hypnotist
Navigating the Storms: Understanding Bipolar Disorder - Part 4 (Ep. 311)
The complex world of bipolar disorder demands our attention and understanding—especially when it affects us or someone we love. In this fourth installment of our deep dive into bipolar disorder, we unravel the confusing tangle of symptoms that define this challenging mental health condition.
What exactly happens during a manic episode? We explore how excessive happiness, restlessness, racing thoughts, and decreased need for sleep combine with poor judgment to create potentially dangerous situations. The most troubling aspect? Those experiencing mania typically cannot recognize the consequences of their actions in the moment. "When they're in that manic stage, their brain is not functioning as it should," we explain, walking through how this impaired judgment leads to risky behaviors from promiscuity to impulsive spending.
The depressive side presents its own challenges—overwhelming sadness, fatigue, and hopelessness creating what we describe as a "vicious cycle" between these polar opposite states. We discuss how bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component, making it one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions, though environmental factors and brain chemistry also play crucial roles in its development.
Perhaps most surprisingly, there isn't always an obvious trigger for symptom onset, which can emerge at virtually any age. Through real-life examples, including a mental health nurse who successfully managed her own bipolar disorder, we demonstrate how this condition can affect anyone—even those you'd never suspect were struggling.
For those supporting someone with bipolar disorder, we offer guidance on the delicate balance between providing support and setting necessary boundaries. We address the reluctance many people (especially men) feel about seeking mental health treatment and emphasize that medication should be viewed as a valuable tool rather than a last resort or sign of weakness.
Have you been carrying an outdated diagnosis or noticed concerning mood cycles in yourself or a loved one? Text "hypnosis" to 313-800-8510 for our free guide and visit motorcityhypnotist.com to learn more about how professional help can make all the difference in managing this challenging condition.
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Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist
David Wright: 0:01
In this episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast, we are talking about bipolar disorder. This is part four. I know it's been a lot of episodes, but there's a lot of ground to cover and I want to make sure you have all the information you need if you or one of your loved ones is suffering with bipolar disorder. And, as usual, we're giving away free stuff. Hang in there, folks, we'll be right back. This sounds like something for the authorities in Detroit. Well, joke's on you. I'm living to 102 and then die at the city of Detroit.
Matt Fox: 0:35
Guys like this can't take over here. Out of Detroit, spawn in the hellfires of Motown, take him to Detroit.
Announcer: 0:43
No, no, not Detroit, no, no, please, Anything, but that no, stationed in Drambuie, it's worse than Detroit. We did not have, as a unit, the confidence that we felt like we needed to beat Detroit. Let's go to Detroit. Now you're talking brother. I don't think so. He plays for Detroit now. Do they have many farms in Detroit?
Matt Fox: 1:07
Detroit to Michigan. I go to school. I know where Detroit is.
Announcer: 1:11
Get ready for the Motor City hypnotist, david R Wright. Originating from the suburbs of Detroit, michigan, he has hypnotized thousands of people from all over the United States. David R Wright has been featured on news outlets all across the country and is the clinical director of an outpatient mental health and hypnosis clinic located just south of Detroit, where he helps people daily using the power of hypnosis. Welcome the Motor City Hypnotist, david R Wright.
David Wright: 1:57
What is going on, my friends? This is David Wright, the Motor City Hypnotist, and we are here with another episode of the Motor City Hypnotist podcast. I know it's part four. It is part four, but it's worth it. It is worth it, definitely. The other voice is Matt Fox. Hi, he's hanging out helping me out producing the podcast, and appreciation to you, matt, I appreciate it. Thank you, david, and we're here in the Palatial Podcast. Your voice, southfield Studios. We're doing a podcast. Yeah, you know, having enjoying a drink, just hanging out with friends, having a good time, clink that plastic glass.
Matt Fox: 2:34
There we go, cheers brother, plink, yep, plink, is it plink Plastic?
David Wright: 2:39
clink, plink. Well, I don't know about plastic. It would be like thud, I don't know, I don't know thud. So we're here doing a podcast. Uh, let me tell you first, folks, where you can find me. My website is motorcityhypnotistcom. Check it out. It's got all kinds of all kinds of areas you can check out as far as shows, as far as personal sessions, as far as information a bunch of stuff on there. Check it out. Facebook and YouTube are both Motor City Hypnotist. Snapchat, instagram and TikTok are all Motor City Hypno Matt.
Matt Fox: 3:16
I'm sorry, h-y-p-n-o, there we go. Hypno, hungry, hungry, hypnos.
David Wright: 3:21
And as we've done on every episode, going back to number one and we're at number 309 or 10 right now we're giving away a free hypnosis guide. It's a PDF I wrote. It's a couple of pages. It's not too deep, too detailed, but it gives you an overview of what hypnosis is, kind of dispels some myths and misconceptions. And you can have that for free by texting the word hypnosis to 313-800-8510. Do it.
David Wright: 3:47
And if you're in your car, you're listening somewhere where you can't write this down, just go to my website, motorcityhypnotistcom. It's the same phone number. Text the word hypnosis to the number you find there, please. You'll have your hypnosis guide within a couple of minutes and also a link that takes you to my Google business page where you can leave a review, which I would greatly appreciate, because that helps us just get in front of more people, have a better evaluation rating, whatever you call it, and it just gets us out there. So I would appreciate that very much. Yes, do it Worth it. And wherever you're listening, whatever podcast platform you're on iTunes, stitcher, spotify, whatever it is leave a review and also connect like subscribe, whatever it is on your platform, so that you get the program whenever it drops every Tuesday, thursday. All righty, okay, here we go. It's time. It's a real one. Yours was a real one, matt.
Announcer: 4:48
That's how winning is done.
David Wright: 4:51
All right. We always like these winners of the week and we also love them when they're animal stories. Is it a dog? It is a dog. Yes, it's a chihuahua.
Matt Fox: 5:01
Again, we had a chihuahua last week as winner of the week or a couple weeks ago.
David Wright: 5:05
Yeah, one of the last episodes.
Matt Fox: 5:07
What is it with the Chihuahuas? I don't know.
David Wright: 5:09
All right, bring it. Okay. The first sentence is going to blow your mind. All right, a two-legged Chihuahua, just that my brain Named Champ. Okay, his name is Champ, all right. Detected a potentially fatal heart attack before his owner ever felt symptoms, saving his life in the process. Holy shit, yeah. 63-year-old Andrew Kuzik says Champ's unusual behavior hugging his chest and whining prompted life-saving medical attention.
Matt Fox: 5:42
That's brilliant.
David Wright: 5:44
It made Kuzik take the chest-tightening feeling seriously and his wife called for help. He had emergency surgery during which his heart stopped beating twice but survived to make a steady recovery.
Matt Fox: 5:58
Because of the puppy.
David Wright: 5:59
Yep, I was just watching TV when Champ came up to me. Cusack from Locust Grove, Georgia. What was he watching? He recounted up to me, Cusick, from Locust Grove, Georgia. What was he watching? Recounted to the English news outlet SWNS. He hugged my chest, right about where my heart is, and made a line I've never heard him utter before. Shortly after that, I started having chest pains. Oh my gosh. Champ, who was born missing two legs, is one of six rescue chihuahuas that share Cusick's mobile home with him and his wife, Pamela that's. He had a minor heart attack once before, which caused him to take symptoms like the chest pain more seriously.
Matt Fox: 6:38
I really enjoy stories about animals that. Well, I always gravitate to these, that predicts, you know, ailments for us as humans. I love these stories.
David Wright: 6:48
It's just fascinating. Moved by Champ's persistent whimpering, cusack's wife dialed 911 for an ambulance and he was rushed about 30 miles to the hospital in Atlanta where doctors performed emergency surgery. He won't listen to me, he'll listen to the freaking dog Right. The doctor showed me this giant thing blocking my heart right after surgery, he said. He said in his career he's never seen anything like it. I know for sure that without Champ I wouldn't be here, he added, saying the dog did the same thing shortly before he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Oh my God, just one of several forms of cancer he's currently battling.
David Wright: 7:31
I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs who have been abandoned, especially chihuahuas, even though they get a bad rap because of their barking Q6. Most of my dogs have special needs to. One is blind and they become a complete blessing to me. Cusack, a self-described born-again Christian, sees profound meaning in his survival through Champ's remarkable abilities. I think for some strange reason during all my cancers, the Lord wants me to be on this earth, he said, pointing out Champ as a third pillar of his strength, alongside Pamela and his faith. I love him with all my heart. He's just incredible. Whenever people see him, they immediately fall in love with him.
Matt Fox: 8:15
Man.
David Wright: 8:16
Yeah, great story, I love that.
Matt Fox: 8:20
I'm a little bit clipped over here. No, I thoroughly enjoy animals that are so in tune with their humans that they're able to help that human to recognize what they're not recognizing. He was sitting there watching a television show and he knew he was having chest pains. But the dog said you know what? You should pay more attention to what's happening right now. And it definitely did that. Champ was a champ. Yes absolutely.
David Wright: 8:52
I love it. Definitely Winner of the week.
Announcer: 9:03
That's how winning is done.
Matt Fox: 9:04
Before we jump into part four yes, yes, I'm going to share a quick little quip with you. Absolutely, my band teacher in seventh and eighth grade had a little paper on his, a piece of paper on his window in his office and it was a picture of a dog and it said missing dog. Missing left ear, has three legs, half of a tail, blind in one eye.
Matt Fox: 9:31
Goes by the name of lucky yeah, that's about right, so that works with, with Champ born with only two legs and to still have the gumption saying, hey, you saved me.
David Wright: 9:49
Let me save you.
Matt Fox: 9:50
I love that.
David Wright: 9:51
Yeah, absolutely Fantastic story, oh sorry, oh, what are we doing? We're not done yet.
Matt Fox: 9:58
Turn it down.
David Wright: 9:59
There you go there we go All right, hold on. What are we doing? I'm an idiot, are we?
Matt Fox: 10:04
back to it, back to it. All right, let me do it, so you don't have to play it. Okay, you ready, so just stop, stop, stop, you ready, yep, so back to it all right here we go.
David Wright: 10:15
We're back into bipolar disorder, part four. I know we've covered a lot of ground and a lot of information, but I want to make sure everybody has the information they need as far as if you yourself or if somebody you know is suffering with bipolar disorder, this information can help you. So we covered what bipolar. We've done three episodes. Go back, you can jump ahead or listen to this one and go back, doesn matter, you're going to get all the information. So what are, what are the defining signs of bipolar disorder? How does somebody know that they really have this? Because I I do this myself. I self-diagnose all the time yourself. Google is not a friend when you're looking for medical diagnoses, because every day I could have cancer or something lethal, and it's not the case.
Matt Fox: 11:09
Well, that I know of okay, webmd, yeah, is probably and it's a very useful tool, but I will say it's probably the worst thing that we can look at fixated on that and and it doesn't.
David Wright: 11:23
It just gives you information. It doesn't. It doesn't necessarily apply to you, because you have to be examined and diagnosed.
Matt Fox: 11:32
And we talked about this earlier because depression can set on at any time.
Matt Fox: 11:38
Everyone experiences death in their life, but it's how you handle said grief that's going to pull you through and some people fixate themselves and then they start to go down a rabbit hole, and it's very difficult for them to pull themselves out of that rabbit hole, right. But then things start to change in your brain. Your brain starts to rewire itself because you get fixated on these things, and that's where some of these things may come to be, whether it be bipolar or whatever it's general depression, General depression yeah right.
Matt Fox: 12:12
It leads down so many paths. So I'm excited for part four. So what are we looking at?
David Wright: 12:20
now, okay. So what are the symptoms? How do you know if you have this? Yes, now okay. So what are the symptoms? How do you know if you have this? Yes, the defining sign of bipolar one disorder is a manic episode that lasts at least a week. Right, and we did cover this, and we did cover this in episode one or two, I believe. Yes, while people with bipolar two disorder experience hypomanic episodes, which means very, very extreme manic episodes and extreme manic episodes means can't sleep.
Matt Fox: 12:50
Your brain won't shut off.
David Wright: 12:51
Yep right and and and again, with with a severe manic episode again very risky behaviors promiscuity, shoplifting, things like that. Shopping in general, just to get you Overspending, overspending yes. Promiscuity. It all kind of comes together when you're in this manic episode you're not making rational decisions, but a lot of bipolar disorder clients experience both hypomanic and manic depressive episodes. So it doesn't always follow a set pattern I guess pattern for a better way of saying it. They may experience different moods or different feelings within a couple of days.
Matt Fox: 13:42
What would those feelings be?
David Wright: 13:45
Either a feeling of extreme heightened awareness and when I say that I mean a manic episode where your mind is so active you can't sleep, you can't focus it's just seeking out some sort of of where you're starting satisfaction.
Matt Fox: 14:04
You're starting something but not finishing it. Moving on to the next before you finalize.
David Wright: 14:08
Or or or. Again we talk about. We talk about these, these extreme risky behaviors again. We talk about these extreme risky behaviors Again drinking more, promiscuity, shoplifting, things that they know they shouldn't be doing it, but they are. But they get a feeling from it, they get a satisfaction from it.
Matt Fox: 14:25
What is that feeling? It's a satisfaction. What is that feeling Is it? They just can't shut it off. Yeah, because they don't want to. They feel compelled. Oh, they're compelled.
David Wright: 14:33
They can't shut it off. Yeah, because they don't want to. They feel compelled. Oh, they can't shut it off, they want to shut it off, but they can't right exactly, yeah, absolutely got it. So mood changes and bipolar disorder can happen over a period of weeks, months or even years sometimes. So so you could have cycles, that that you, you may go years without having a manic episode and then have it. So it's not time, it's not a time bound thing.
Matt Fox: 14:58
No, it's not time bound, all right.
David Wright: 15:00
It's not time bound.
Matt Fox: 15:01
But here's the thought process for me is someone that hasn't had an episode for a couple of years Yep, they start having an episode. Can they recognize that they're having an episode? See?
David Wright: 15:16
here's the problem when they're in that manic stage, their brain is not functioning as it should, so they're not recognizing the behavior, so they're not recognizing the danger, or part of them might be, but that other part is just overtaking and saying I want the endorphins, I want the thrill of stealing this Got it. Or I want the thrill of being promiscuous yes. Or I want the thrill of doing something dangerous yeah.
Matt Fox: 15:44
It's a very dangerous episode.
David Wright: 15:46
Absolutely no matter what Absolutely. So when we talk about mania specifically again, how do you know if you're in a manic stage or if you're just happy? That's a great question. So here's the signs and symptoms of a manic episode Excessive happiness, hopefulness and excitement thing it could be, but if, if it's not based in reality, that's where the problem comes in restlessness, rapid speech and racing thoughts, increased energy and less need for sleep.
David Wright: 16:24
We talked about that in the previous episodes increased impulsivity and poor judgment, such as like suddenly just quitting your job Right Reckless risk, risk taking behavior such as drug and alcohol misuse, having unsafe or unprotected sex. We talked about promiscuity feeling like you're unusually important, talented or powerful.
Matt Fox: 16:49
Now this is a weird one in this, that that's a borderline of bipolar and narcissism.
David Wright: 16:55
Well, yes, exactly, or borderline. You said the word yeah, it fits into all those categories, so that feels like it's kind of out in left field. But here's the big thing A psychosis is also a common factor of a manic episode.
Matt Fox: 17:10
See, that's the first time, I believe, that you've mentioned the word psychosis.
David Wright: 17:13
It's the first time People in a really severe manic episode can have hallucinations or delusions. It's a psychotic break.
Matt Fox: 17:26
And everybody's different. What do those hallucinations look like? Everyone's wired differently. See that it's wired differently.
David Wright: 17:33
See that and it takes impossible to answer that because, again, everyone's different.
Matt Fox: 17:38
I that's why I asked. It is an impossible question to answer because everybody is wired differently. People will see different things based on the episode they're going through and the break that they're having and it's all based on your own experiences, your life experiences, your history.
David Wright: 17:54
So it's all based on your own experiences, your life experiences, your history, your mindset, go on. So this may answer the question you had earlier, matt. Most people people experience a manic episode are unaware of the negative consequences. Yeah, they don't, because they're not thinking about the consequences, they're just thinking about doing what they want to do, and I'll say it bluntly, because they don't care Right At that point. They don't, they don't, that's really yeah. So the other end of the spectrum is the depressive side of bipolar disorder.
Matt Fox: 18:30
Okay, so that's the other side of the hill where they're coming up the hill. It's a cycle. They're coming up the hill, they've had their episode, then they're coming down from it. Now they're realizing the repercussions, the consequences that could be, and now they start to get themselves into a depressive state where, oh, what did I do?
David Wright: 18:49
Again, and these are symptoms that apply to general depression, for for any person, but overwhelming sadness, low energy and fatigue, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, lost of enjoyment, difficulty concentrating, uncontrollable crying, irritability, increased need for sleep.
Matt Fox: 19:12
It is a vicious and I say the word sleep. It is a vicious and I say the word vicious it's a vicious cycle.
David Wright: 19:16
It is. It is a vicious cycle.
Matt Fox: 19:18
Because when you're in that, when you're ups and you're downs, when you're down, you are down, you are very down, yep, and you can't figure out how to get yourself out of it Absolutely. And then you find something promiscuity, overspending that's going to bring you back. That gives you that thrill Up that cycle that gives you that excitement. It's such a vicious cycle it is. It really is.
David Wright: 19:42
It's a very difficult cycle. So the question also comes up well, what causes this? Am I likely to get this? Let's say you're 20 years old and you're saying, well, god, I don't want to get this. So here's what causes and again, a lot of it is random. A lot of it is happenstance. I get it Study-wise. There's not a specific correlation on what causes bipolar disorder.
Matt Fox: 20:14
Let me say take your time on this part.
David Wright: 20:18
Yes, absolutely so. Here's the thing there's a strong belief among studies and among other scientists or people who deal in mental health that there's a strong genetic component with bipolar disorder. It's one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions Heritable as in genetics. Yes, okay, I mean you inherit this, unfortunately. So if you have a parent or a grandparent who's had bipolar disorder, you are more likely to have that than somebody who hasn't had relatives with that disorder.
Matt Fox: 21:00
Would the word susceptible be considered? Yes, absolutely.
David Wright: 21:05
So the other thing is changes in your brain other than heredity. Changes in your brain other than heredity. Um, studies have been done and here's the problem. Like people with bipolar disorder, they've done studies and they've done brain scans and they can't determine any difference in the brain scan with people of bipolar disorder than people who are quote-un.
Matt Fox: 21:32
That's where I had mentioned earlier in the last episode the technology that we have now. It's only going to get better and better and we will be able to diagnose earlier the changes between normal brain and someone that is bipolar. And it all comes down to all the studies that are being done in this day and age. It's only going to help future generations down the road. I don't want my children to have you know my brain chemistry right. I want that. I want them to make their own choices. That's what we all want. Yep, unfortunately, we pass shit down well well and and again.
David Wright: 22:16
That's a fact of life. Unfortunately, that's what happens. I'll give you a personal example. My mom had a heart attack at 48 okay, her first one.
Matt Fox: 22:27
She had two other ones okay, she had cancer I'm listening and she was also diabetic so the deck of cards against you right now she passed away at age 72 sorry for your loss.
David Wright: 22:43
No, that's fine. It's been like almost 20 years, okay. But my point being is I have to take genetics into account, of course. That okay. My mom had poor health conditions, she had cancer, she was diabetic, so all of these things play into my mind as far as how I proceed with my life to avoid those things.
Matt Fox: 23:04
When you go to the doctor and they ask you about your family's medical history. That's the point. They want to understand what you might be up against susceptible susceptible. Yeah, yeah, absolutely yeah, so you, you have a parent that had ailments. Yeah, you know, heart attack at 48, that's no small matter. That's no, it's not um, the gentleman that had a heart attack when, and his dog, yeah, prevented, prevented it right, that was a widow maker he had in his chest and his dog said hey, this ain't happening because you need to stick around and take care of me longer, because I only have two legs.
Matt Fox: 23:40
But as we move forward as human beings, as we move forward as children, with children who will have children, we want to make sure that they know what they are susceptible to, which will only make those studies even better Fast forward 50 years to the human brain, because we know very little about the human brain right now.
David Wright: 24:06
Let me just give you an anecdotal thought in my head that if we could learn more about how the brain works, we could prevent a lot of these things from happening. Of course, of course, and I'll be upfront there are medications to address this, as there are most physical ailments or mental ailments. There is medication to address bipolar disorder. Yes, and much of it is very effective, but, however, there's always a however. Yes, but the problem is you still have to deal with it. And I would say this with any other physical ailment, whether you're diabetic, whether you have heart disease, whether you're obese, that there are physical ailments that you have to address, and the same thing with mental ailments, that they happen the same way. You don't plan on these things. Nope, nobody sets out in their life to be 400 pounds.
Matt Fox: 25:04
No, of course not. Right, of course not. But that, that's what you grew up with.
David Wright: 25:08
Right. Somehow or another, there's there's some emotional or mental or psychological trauma that has affected you in some way, and that's why you're in this condition.
Matt Fox: 25:21
You have a relative, a great grandfather or grandfather, that was in the war, world War II, going back even further, yep, shell shock. They were diagnosed with shell shock, which which now would be called pts. Correct. And it progresses because, as the dsm, as it continues to progress, there will be a six and a seven and an eight over the years to come. Things do progress well it's a good point.
David Wright: 25:48
You bring that up, matt, I I want to. I want to like, like exclamation point, that because the DSM is recently as the 1980s, the DSM still listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. See, that's wrong. Well, that In this day and age? Yes, in this day and age it is, but it's how things have progressed. People learn, you learn more, you get more information, you make better decisions, better evaluation.
Matt Fox: 26:17
And when I say homosexuality is, you know, and the DSM is a mental disorder, right, the DSM is wrong. It's a choice in this day and age, right, and that's the choice that people make. However, that choice stemmed from somewhere, sure as a layman speaking or it's it's just who you are.
David Wright: 26:39
Yeah, because we're all wired differently again, and I don't want to go off on a whole tangent here. But but people who are homosexual, they, they didn't choose this, they didn't say, oh, I want to be this, it's just who they are.
Matt Fox: 26:55
That's how it works because, because everybody is wired differently, and that's where this whole, the whole bipolar, that's where this all comes to fruition. It's all about choices that you make that lead you down a cycle.
David Wright: 27:11
Well, and even bipolar disorder you can make all the right choices in the world and all of a sudden, at age 26, you're hit with this, like what is going on here? You don't know it it thinks could be perfect up to a certain age and all of a sudden you start having these symptoms and you you're like what the hell is this? What was the trigger. But see, that's the thing, there doesn't have to be a trigger trigger. But see, that's the thing, there doesn't have to be a trigger that.
Matt Fox: 27:41
That's why I asked the question. Yeah, exactly there. There doesn't have to be a trigger. Exactly, it's just something in your brain goes, snap.
David Wright: 27:45
Yeah and it happens, or it's just there and it just doesn't come out until you're, you're you're more experienced in life.
Matt Fox: 27:53
Let's say because everybody is wired differently. Not everybody experiences a proverbial snap at 26. It could happen at 45.
David Wright: 28:03
It could happen at 13. It could happen at 10. It could happen at 65.
Matt Fox: 28:09
There's so many questions about this extreme, and I say the word extreme because it does affect you personally. And I say the word extreme because it does affect you personally, but the people around you oh absolutely. Oh, your family goes through so much with somebody who's dealing with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness, and they can either choose to confront it or move away from it.
David Wright: 28:34
Well, and that's a tough thing because a lot of times with mental, especially with I'll generalize here especially with males, they tend to resist getting treatment. Okay, Females are much more open to going to therapy, talking to people talking about their issues. Males tend to be like I'm tough, I don't need that, I'm okay, I don't need directions. You know what I'm saying? It's just that they'll be very no, don't shut me up, that's a male.
Matt Fox: 29:08
Of course, because we don't want to be told how to get better.
David Wright: 29:14
Also, it's seen as a weakness as far as the male masculinity. It seems a weakness to have a mental illness.
Matt Fox: 29:23
Okay, it's like an onion you have to peel the level. So children that have parents that are suffering from bipolar, those bipolar disorders that are out there, how do they choose to deal or confront, support or leave? Yes, what compels?
David Wright: 29:48
That's a. It's a tough question. It is because it depends on the you go back to Matt. Everybody has a different brain. Everybody thinks differently. Everybody has their own individuality. But there's no simple answer to that. Some people will leave, some people will be supportive, some people want to be active and try to fix things. It just depends on the person.
Matt Fox: 30:12
Okay, so I'm having a little PTSD. No, no, you're good, if you don't mind. Yeah, and I, I've been on both sides and it's it's very difficult. You support the person.
David Wright: 30:25
Yeah.
Matt Fox: 30:27
And then you're trying to help the folks that don't want to support the person, but you should. You're, you're trying to get them to want to support the person it's. It's a very difficult fine line.
David Wright: 30:35
Well, here's the other thing. You support the person. To what level? Right, that's the hard thing.
Matt Fox: 30:44
Where do you, as the individual, draw the line?
David Wright: 30:46
You support? At what point does you? Say I'm done, I can't do this anymore and that's where I'm PTSD and really that is almost. I hate to say it. It's an impossible question to answer.
Matt Fox: 31:00
I will give you the answer, but not on microphone.
David Wright: 31:02
Right, right, I get it. It's very difficult it is To deal with somebody with mental illness in your family. It's how much do you give? What's the right amount? When do you cut them off? When do you set boundaries?
David Wright: 31:17
These are all questions that are so difficult to answer and the best thing that I can say to that is that we need to figure it out, you need to talk about it, you need to figure out what the best approach is and the best way to do that. And it sounds cliche, it sounds trite, but it's go to therapy, figure it out, talk about your issues. Thank you for that. Yet get to the bottom of it and, and especially those of you who feel like you may be just maybe dealing with bipolar disorder or maybe you know, maybe you've been diagnosed. But I'm going to go back to episode one. I've had a lot of clients come in to see me and they said I'm bipolar, I'm bipolar, I'm like how do you know that? Right, well, I was diagnosed that when I was 12 years ago 22 years old and I'm like well, yeah, but, but.
David Wright: 32:11
But, things can change. I'm not saying you ever recover from it, but but you can manage it and cope with it better, right? So? So I always have issue with clients who say I'm bipolar, I'm schizophrenic, I'm depressed, I'm like well, where did you get that information? Who told you that? Yeah, well, really. But that's why I start with clients. I'm like well, why do you believe that? What are the facts? What's the empirical evidence that leads you to that conclusion? And a lot of times people have no, they can't answer it. That they like I, I don't know, I was told that right, like yeah, but that doesn't mean it's true. Right, that's the big thing.
David Wright: 32:48
So here's the thing, folks, to wrap up, episode four of bipolar depression. If you feel like you have these symptoms of these cycles of mood going to depressed to this manic phase which we feel like the best way I can describe that is like being drunk Okay, you're just apt to do whatever you feel like doing. Your judgment is compromised, you're doing whatever makes you feel good. If you're having these, these different episodes, it's probably a sign that you might be suffering with bipolar disorder. So the best thing to do is to go see a therapist, and I I'm a little reticent to say this, but a lot of times medication is the answer.
Matt Fox: 33:36
Cause you rely on medication as a last resort.
David Wright: 33:39
That's my approach. Medication as a last resort that's my approach.
Matt Fox: 33:40
It's a last resort and you said it's like being drunk. No yeah, you just have these feelings of you're not in control, right, and when you can recognize when you're not in control.
David Wright: 33:56
See, that's the difficulty, though, but people who are in a manic episode don't recognize that they're just going off of what their mind is telling them.
Matt Fox: 34:06
And that's where the people around you are so important.
David Wright: 34:10
Well, and also a medical professional, a primary care, a therapist.
Matt Fox: 34:14
That's what I mean by people around you.
David Wright: 34:17
These are people who can guide you and get you the help that you need, because and I know for for you clients out there who are are who think they may have bipolar disorder go see someone. That's the best thing I can say because it can be managed. I'll give you a real life example, please. When I graduated from college, my first job was at a community mental health place called. Downriver Guidance yes you had mentioned.
David Wright: 34:47
They still exist. It's Downriver Guidance Center now, but it doesn't matter. But I dealt with dual diagnosed, which means substance abuse and some sort of mental disorder in the community.
David Wright: 34:59
A lot of these people were schizophrenic. Most were bipolar, so they would have these manic episodes where they would just become psychotic in a way. So during that time I dealt with these people and you would never know that they were bipolar unless they were off their medication. Somebody at that place I worked with. So we had a team. I was the master's level clinician, there were a couple other bachelor's level clinicians and there was a team leader. Then we also had a nurse who was on our staff. She would give injections or monthly medications, whatever. One day this nurse doesn't show up Three or four days later. I'm like what's up with? I'll call her. Call her Marla. I'm like what's up with Marla? Where's Marla at? My team leader said she's going to be out for a while. She came back and she actually talked to me. She said I'm bipolar, I was in a manic episode. I decompensated, wow, I just had to go to the hospital.
Matt Fox: 36:13
She was hospitalized. She recognized.
David Wright: 36:16
After the fact Okay, so I'm like. This is somebody I worked with for a year. I would have never had a clue if they had never I would. I would have never suspected it, I would have never said, oh, something's wrong with her, which in a way is kind of a good thing because I wasn't judging. But again, she was, she was very she, she was just for all accounts, she was there.
Matt Fox: 36:43
She was there. She was there, she was doing her job.
David Wright: 36:46
Yeah, she was my friend. We hung out, we had drinks, it. It just seems so foreign to me, but that shows me that somebody can can seem like they're all together, but they could be dealing with this in the background, right? So the best thing I could say is those of you who are experiencing whatever symptoms whether it's a manic episode, whether it's a depressive episode the big thing is to talk to somebody and get help. I know and I'm going to generalize here for men out there, I know that's a difficult thing. You're not wrong.
David Wright: 37:22
I will say, just over the past 30 years of practicing, probably 80% of my clientele are women. Okay, only 20% are men.
Matt Fox: 37:31
So 10, 15 years ago. Yes, men typically don't step up and say I have an issue, I need help.
David Wright: 37:43
In this day and age, men are becoming more open to their feelings today and they're going to continue to open up a little bit more over the next coming over the next couple of decades.
Matt Fox: 38:04
Absolutely, because everybody is wired differently and as new studies come out and they show these significant changes in behavior and it can be pinpointed in a certain way, you're going to see a lot more. It's going to equal out. At some point it should equal out. That's my wish, that's my prayer, that's my hope.
David Wright: 38:29
Yeah, hopefully so. So again, if you're experiencing any of these symptoms or you suspect something's just not right, go talk to someone. And here's the thing. I don't want to say this I'm sure I've said it on this podcast before, you've said a lot but just because you go see a therapist doesn't mean that's the right therapist for you. Correct, you have to be comfortable. You have to work with a therapist who has your best interest in mind. Now, I hate even saying this, but it's the truth. Some therapists are just not good, it's just a fact. So make sure it's somebody that you can relate to, somebody that you feel like has your best interest at heart. You have the choice. You, as a client, always have the choice to say I'm not clicking with Joe, I want to see Irina, it doesn't matter.
David Wright: 39:21
It doesn't matter what it is, but you have to feel like you're going to work with someone.
Matt Fox: 39:25
So in the DJ industry they have individuals that are called hobby jocks. They're just there as a hobby Right, just to play music. It's a hobby.
David Wright: 39:36
They're just there to get a paycheck.
Matt Fox: 39:38
They're not a professional right. So you don't want to find yourself a hobby doc right. You need to find someone that is in it for you to get well here's the thing therapists are just like the general population.
David Wright: 39:51
They're good ones, they're bad ones. There are people with personality traits that you might not click with. That regardless you, you need to be comfortable with who you're talking to. So make sure that that you can say I'm not comfortable with Joe, I want to see Bob.
Matt Fox: 40:10
Sure, that's totally or I need somebody else, and whatever resource you're using, they will do the right thing and find you something that's more Hopefully so that is the next person, the next man up, right Next man up, because you don't know, because you need to go through that process to try to trust them again.
David Wright: 40:28
The bottom line is if you feel like you're having any of these symptoms, it's important that you seek out help. Yes, that is the big thing. Yes, now again, I know Matt. I said this earlier. Matt reinforced it Medication is not an answer, but it is a tool. It's a tool that can help you get better. It's a tool.
Matt Fox: 40:47
It's not the it's not the end. All be all you still have to do work.
David Wright: 40:51
Yes, you still have to do therapy, you still have to talk to somebody, you still have to focus on what you want to change, but medication can help you do that another medication change.
Matt Fox: 41:02
Oh my god, I gotta come off of this one and kind of go up on that and I know that is the challenge it is psychologically that's a tough challenge but it's there for it's. It's medication for a reason and they're making the change for a reason. If you can not buy in, but understand the change you will.
David Wright: 41:22
That's the big thing is people knowing that this is what the medication could do for?
Matt Fox: 41:27
you.
David Wright: 41:28
Yes, and it's a lot easier to accept that. Yes, here's the thing. I frame it this way to my clients If you have heart disease, if you have high cholesterol, say it's at like 270, eat some freaking cheerios just eat some cheerios I'm just kidding, they're gone.
David Wright: 41:46
There are statins for that. There's medications specifically designed to reduce your cholesterol, your a1c level, which will help you be healthier. So psychotropic medications are the same way and I know a lot of people feel like, oh, I don't want to be taking a psych, I don't want to take this medication because it feels like I'm a failure, I'm not strong enough to do it on my own. Sure F that Medication serves a purpose in the right situation at the right time, to help you get past what you're dealing with the right situation at the right time.
Matt Fox: 42:25
That's the important part, and don't take medication just to take medication medication is a tool.
David Wright: 42:30
It's not a solution don't take medication just to take it, you still have to be active in therapy and trying to improve the areas that you want to improve thank you all right.
David Wright: 42:39
All right, all righty folks. That is it. That was tough. Bipolar disorder, episode four. All right, folks, join us next Monday evening on Facebook Live Motor City Hypnotist Facebook page. You can watch us, you can see us, you can interact, you can enjoy and engage in the conversation that we're having. Be a part of the podcast, please, every Monday, right around 8 PM. Give or take a little bit In the meantime change your thinking change your life. Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
Announcer: 43:24
We'll see you next time. I'm out.