The Warrior Within: Navigating Bipolar Disorder

Imagine the weight of command in combat intertwined with the silent battle of mental illness. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with General Gregg Martin, who fought a tremendous battle with bipolar disorder all while navigating an accomplished career in the military.

Gregg is sharing his story of resilience in the face of a disorder that pushed him into profound mania and deep depression. He is now passionate about helping shatter the stigma around bipolar disorder so that anyone struggling with this illness can stop suffering in silence and get the treatment that can change the trajectory of their lives. 

Gregg Martin, PhD. is a retired major general and a 36-year Army combat veteran, celebrated for his remarkable career commanding engineer units and holding prestigious roles such as president of the National Defense University, and commander of Fort Leonard Wood. 

An accomplished author, his book “BIPOLAR GENERAL: My Forever War with Mental Illness” candidly shares his journey. With advanced degrees from MIT, the Naval War College, and the Army War College, Gregg’s indomitable spirit offers hope and inspiration to others, while he finds strength and joy alongside his wife in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• Gregg’s experience with bipolar disorder while serving in the military
• What happened when his disorder became out of control 
• How your self-perception shifts when you are manic versus depressed
• Gregg’s journey to getting his diagnosis and how it helped him begin his recovery
• Why we have to get rid of the stigma around getting help
• The power medication and treatment have to turn your life around 
• How important hope is during your healing journey 
• How people perceive mental illness
• How we can begin to normalize the conversations around mental health

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with General Gregg! If you want to learn more from him, make sure to visit his website and get a copy of his book. You can also follow him on LinkedIn. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

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Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

“Without help for mental illness, a person is probably going to go down a road of destruction and even death. But if they do get help, professional medical help, there are treatments available that can lead to a happy, purposeful, healthy life.” -Gregg

“Illness or disease and injury in your brain are not the same things.” -Marc 

“There is no weakness in being vulnerable.” -Erik