My bipolar diagnosis was a gift | Lianca Lyons | TEDxCrenshawSalon

[@michaelaerulius9238]

You touched my heart ❤ I am a 40 year old man with Bipolar 1 and today I needed to hear what you said. Thank you my soul sister! Only those who live with Bipolar truly get it on a core level. Other people can understand it but we live it!! ☺❤

[@liancalyons]

so happy to be a guiding light! :)

[@wangarirenata8313]

Exactly 💯 😊 am bipolar 1 too

[@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD]

Indeed. No one can walk in our shoes. The pain of being so profoundly misunderstood can be soul crushing. Edit: I’m Bipolar 1 too. 🤗

[@jerecasvision]

I just got diagnosed I have been in denial and I’m trying to accept it without judging myself or feeling like a failure. Thank you for sharing

[@livelearngrow4160]

I have bipolar 1. It dictates my entire existence. I am working hard to be the best human across the board. Every day I do my 100% best. After I do my part, I let go and let Allah. Allah helps me everyday. ❤🎉

[@JelleBens]

I am bipolar 2 its part of me but I dont let it dictate my life

[@OnCallWithKasey]

I am so happy to hear that someone else somehow views their mental illness as a gift. I have thought that for a while now and it’s crazy to think that, but it’s honestly how I feel about it. Helping others is what I love to do and connecting with similar people on their level is a way I can help them heal.

[@liancalyons]

YES!!!!! So happy to be relatable!

[@mista589]

Just turned 40, diagnosed at 29... This illness is brutal. Psychosis changes everything.... Depression will have you questioning living, year after year. I wouldn't wish this illness on my worst enemy... God Speed 🙏

[@salimacharania8720]

I have Bipolar disorder since more than 15 years. Your talk gave me positive outlook , believe in myself and HOPE

[@lovelianca]

We have the power to manage it. It all starts with us!

[@70.sabarinathajith80]

Same.

[@mariahguzman2545]

I was just officially diagnosed with bipolar type 1, general anxiety, and PTSD. I don’t know how to feel. Scared mostly, my psychiatrist explained to me that I shouldn’t be afraid, that this is a new part of my life. Since 14 my only diagnoses was severe major depressive disorder and anxiety. This video is so relatable and accurate. Thank you so much

[@liancalyons]

Don't be scared. be BRAVE. every day you will need the courage to live and THRIVE! Fear won't help you! You got this!

[@finity9316]

Were you put on medication if so did it help and in what way ?

[@thepearlswirl]

I had the same experience. I was diagnosed with bpd1, insomnia, anxiety and ptsd in 2018. You’re not alone❤

[@lorainelavoy4083]

Your video made me cry with such power and grace when you had stated Bipolar was your gift from God and turned you into a beautiful butterfly with purpose and drive . Outstanding testimony. Thank you Angel🙏❤️

[@liancalyons]

Thank you for your warm words. I appreciate you!

[@stephanieh5478]

I love this, I recently got diagnosed. At first I felt like a failure but it finally hit me that I needed help for YEARS!! Can’t wait to feel like I can breathe, it’s only been 1 1/2 weeks of meds and roughly 2 months of therapy. It’s time to do better, it’s time to do the self work ❤

[@kimmieann316]

Bipolar 1 here ...thank you for the encouragement.

[@anthonya.9451]

Bipolar 1 here too. Thank you for sharing and being brave. Very well done!

[@liancalyons]

youre welcome!

[@liancalyons]

@@anthonya.9451 i was soooo nervous and now I google myself and it pops up. but..WHO CARES!? ya know?

[@nealambron4997]

I am 41 and have been struggling with my Bipolar 2 diagnosis for the last few months. It feels like being disconnected from the matrix. If I had to do it over, I would have done it sooner. The real world is better. Talk to a professional, and it's OK to overshare!!! It will help them and you in the long run. Life tastes even sweeter when it's real... Why just get by, when you can/should thrive? I don't blame god or myself anymore. My diagnosis was a blessing too.

[@sylvesterq04]

My best friend is Bipolar Manic Depressive-Schizoaffective. I have to wonder if that diagnosis is correct because I have never seen him "depressed." 99% of the time he is bouncing off the walls. And why do we use the word "mood"? My best friend is consumed with rage, he's never in a "bad mood." I know that he can't help it. The worst thing about this are the drug binges! He's out there in the streets right now. I can only pray for his wellbeing. I wish there was help. Jesse is aware of his condition but getting to a life of normalcy seems out of reach for him because, in order to get help he must want it, today, tomorrow, and all the days after. Because of the disorder he has trouble focusing and staying consistent.

[@liancalyons]

❣❣❣

[@liancalyons]

@@sylvesterq04 Drugs are commonly used to self-medicate. yes, you are right. He has to come to it on his own. I pray he has the strength to overcome. :)

[@sylvesterq04]

It would be great if there were more recent discussions regarding this matter. It is a subject that hits close to home for me.

[@liancalyons]

I agree. I'm working on it 😉

[@gina333]

She's an amazing speaker!

[@liancalyons]

thank you! :)

[@elilazmy]

been taking meds for two yrs, cured my depressions. mood stabilizers the most important med in my book. got back to work so things are looking up. god bless you

[@Spectatorofthegames]

Well relayed T talk. 👏 I am penning my story in effort to vocalize and de stigmatize and most importantly soothe my bp community by sharing the pain we experience daily. Your quote really moved me. I would love to use it in my novel. It’s taken years of carefully rationed energy however, I have a ways to go in order to get the thoughts funneled onto the proverbial page. Your beautifully crafted story inspires the rest of us every day someone new finds their power and it is our job to be here when they do! Keep up the amazing work.

[@liancalyons]

Thank you so much for your kind words!!! I continue to Vocalize to Normalize!

[@maryvandam1748]

I relate completely...at 60 I was finally diagnosed BP2...I looked up and said Thank You Lord...Doctor added a seizure med to my zoloft and nine days in I had a Spiritual Awakening... Completely transformed by the Renewal of My Mind🙌🥳God knew that I was ready to begin my Journey of Healing...The gifts that have grown inside of Me blow Me Away...We are all Spirits here to Awaken....Many are Called but few are Chosen... If you are reading this...You have been chosen🙏❤️Much Love...Namaste...

[@admk5144]

what happened after awakening did depression came back again plz help me i started med today i am worried

[@liancalyons]

praise God!

[@NatureHeadSupreme]

Man...I was on zoloft as a standalone being initially diagnosed with MDD. That stuff did me BAD.

[@thatomabotja4316]

❤

[@wangarirenata8313]

For me being Bipolar 1 has not been easy but it's a blessing .My worst manic episode I raptured my Tendon but that's when I decided to become a mental health activist. Bipolar is like fighting with your brain everyday.Without treatment I would get 3 manic episodes a year each lasting more than a week .I get random thoughts and some times am not open enough to deal with an episode

[@liancalyons]

This is so real. I'm very aware of my hypo-mania. I'm more aware of the crash. Sometimes it's unavoidable but self-awareness is KEY! You got this!

[@finity9316]

Were you put on medication if so did it help and in what way ?

[@stefaniewillmon6964]

Miss Lyons, you are amazing you’re telling my story! So similar, I’m bipolar 2, along with PMDD. It’s definitely a struggle, but it’s such a beautiful blessing. I almost feel like the duality with bipolar disorder, allows us to live two different lives and help and relate to so many people. Thank you for sharing your touching story. Yes! We need to normalize this and not stigmatize people for having mental illness, especially bipolar disorder. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🫶🥰

[@AO-ib3qp]

Wonderful and encouraging and brave!

[@lovelianca]

Thank you so much!

[@yadhunandand4175]

You presented your story very well ma'am It was so encouraging

[@liancalyons]

Thank you so much!

[@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD]

Finally after admitting myself to the hospital 4 months ago on my 44th birthday, God gave me my answer. I’m bipolar 1. What a gift to be able to name the demon you are trying to slay. Brain health matters. I can finally breathe.

[@liancalyons]

:)

[@finity9316]

Were you put on medication if so did it help and in what way ?

[@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD]

@@finity9316 I was. Lamotrigine. It works fantastically for me. 😊 Edit: …it helps stabilize my mood so I don’t get hypomanic and do impulsive things (shopping was my drug of choice). I don’t have as many down days where I just feel lethargic and empty. Numb. Mania feels like you’re on a treadmill that starts slowly but then ramps up faster and faster to the point where you’re certain you are going to fall off, but you can’t stop the treadmill and you start to panic. Depression feels like being trapped under a heavy wet blanket that you can’t shake off. You feel like you’re drowning but can’t find the strength to get free, so you start to panic. Lamictal has reduced my anxiety from 20 panic attacks a day to maybe 1 every month or two. It also helps to calm the racing thoughts in my mind so that I’m able to shut my brain off long enough to sleep, but unlike a lot of meds for bipolar it doesn’t make me feel “spacey” or flat. I just feel like the best version of “me” more days than not. *1 in 5 people have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder so I hope this helps you or someone you care about.*

[@mohammadsulaimanmdzahid9836]

Thank youuu. Its was so hard when I was diagnosed with Bipolar type 2. But your talk give me hope again. Thank you

[@liancalyons]

so happy to hear! :)

[@53ashisakashyap87]

Thank you.Felt like there are people like me...and we can do and achieve whatever we want in our own way.,I have bipolar type 2 and at present l am at my low and i am taking medication....but i think if God has put us in this God will help us to get through it.. 💜

[@liancalyons]

YES!!! I love that!! If God has put us through this, God will help us to get through it! ❣❣❣

[@finity9316]

Were you put on medication if so did it help and in what way ?

[@inolawilks9279]

I’m going to share my story too someone needs to hear your story too

[@sparkmama157]

yes. thanks for sharing your story

[@happylove7095]

RELATED 100! Made me cry, Thank you for Sharing Love !

[@liancalyons]

happy to be an inspiration

[@tylerscanlon4155]

I can draw an understanding on why someone would choose medication. However, there are some people who choose a different path without medication. In order to preserve their natural brain, along with not suppressing the person that they are. I have found that you can learn a great deal from delving inward, studying your mind, thoughts, feelings, and their correlation between both your internal and external worlds. For those that might wish to respond negatively; I too have a diagnoses of bipolar depression(17), along with anxiety(7), add(11), and mild ocd(17). I have been in the mental health system since the age of 7, along with being hospitalized 4 times for attempted suicide ( ages 11, 17,18, & 19.) furthermore, through my experiences, and trials with countless meds/cocktails of meds; I have concluded that medication is not the only treatment for said individuals, nor should it be.

[@liancalyons]

it isn't the only treatment but for some that have never tried anything, and just need peace - it's better than NOTHING. :)

[@contagiouslight2095]

What other treatment are you referring too?

[@zellyrodz0421]

The speaker most have been going thorough hypomania during her presentation. She was quite excited

[@BaltimoreBama]

I felt this 🙌🏾

[@liancalyons]

❣❣❣

[@josephcockburn3160]

Book, "Am I Bipolar or waking up" is a good read

[@liancalyons]

Thank you! I'll check it out!

[@tzazella751]

if the diagnosis is a gift, id gladly re-gift it. bipolar is killing me.

[@70.sabarinathajith80]

Me to. Don't know what's going to happen . Just want a long sleep.

[@tzazella751]

@@70.sabarinathajith80 i understand you. I've just begun to come out of a 2 month depression. i'm just now beginning to feel somewhat stable and not sleepy all the time.

[@liancalyons]

a gift in the sense of "I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG" so I now know how to manage and treat my mental illness. It's not always easy, but I've identified what's wrong and my triggers. So it's easier to live with (for me). I wish you well. Please be encouraged.

[@Wiiliam_Robinson]

Lianca Lyons' TEDx talk on embracing her bipolar diagnosis as a gift resonates with the positive approach Dr. Tonmoy Sharma, a distinguished mental health specialist and author, and Sovereign Health institution take in helping individuals. This approach recognizes the potential for personal growth and transformation that can emerge from mental health challenges. Testimonies from both employees and patients at Sovereign Health highlight the transformative impact of their services, as individuals express deep gratitude for the support and guidance they've received, enabling them to navigate their conditions and emerge stronger. Dr. Tonmoy Sharma's advocacy and techniques, which blend medical expertise with a holistic understanding of the individual, align with the idea that a diagnosis, even one as challenging as bipolar disorder, can be a catalyst for positive change. This approach reflects the resilience and strength within each individual, and it's heartening to see this message being shared through powerful platforms like TEDx talks.

[@piasmith9316]

So well said!!

[@lovelianca]

Thank you!

[@anthonya.9451]

How was your psychiatrist able to asses you being “negative” in serotonin by looking at you the day of your very first appointment? I didn’t know there were tests to determine our levels of serotonin. Did she asses this by a panel of blood work she maybe ordered?

[@liancalyons]

@anthony a. I actually get asked this question a lot. and to be honest, I don't know. she literally looked at me and assessed it. I was so desperate for help, I accepted her assessment. I would assume it's because she sees it so much, it's the same symptoms and she knows how to treat it? the same as any other type of ailment/symptom/diagnosis?

[@jordonlongley6576]

I think the psychiatrist deduced a low serotonin level by her demeanor. Telling her that her level of serotonin was negative is a easy concise way to very broadly explain the neurology behind her mood state, thus scientifically validating her feelings.

[@virgiliofabilonia7181]

My eldest son had diagnose same bipolar DISORDER since 2018

[@free_the_lion4915]

great speech well spoken 👏

[@liancalyons]

Thank you!

[@kriselvis4890]

How I feeling I just got my diagnosis and I’m readyyyy!!!

[@liancalyons]

Go get em! you got this!

[@tugaytekir8070]

I don’t wanna loose it but since I know too that I liked to write poets so many night with full of tears but recently I’m also writing but doctor gave me the decapin which is 500 mg for everyday, in our last call he said that you have to use that pill in order to be stabilise your mood, but I’m asking you mam will i loose my creativity

[@chrishornbach162]

They labeled us folks.... it's a label to let us know that they know how much of a threat we are. Guard your gifts and know y That your not alone....fear is an illusion

[@INTERSTELLAR1111]

PHARMACEUTICAL ADDICTS ....

[@Brian6587]

I really liked your talk alot Lianca! As a Christian I've been struggling with the idea of medication. I was on Paxil ever since I was 12 but recently had symptoms show up of Bipolar. I've been having symptoms of hypomania and some severe depressive episodes. I struggle with taking my medication as I feel that I sometimes am not putting enough faith in God to heal. To hear your turnaround though makes me so happy to hear. I pray that I can maybe begin to trust medication for healing.

[@liancalyons]

@brian6587 TRUST that GOD will lead you to the right doctors that put you on the right medication for YOU! :)

[@tugaytekir8070]

You touched my roller coaster and inspirational mind but what if I accept to use the medication I’ll loose my creativity?? Pls advice me about that

[@shwetasingh2451]

The question is your sanity dear. There will be changes in your creativity.. with medication you will be little calm and that would be different kind of creativity.. it's your health that should be your priority.

[@INTERSTELLAR1111]

[@INTERSTELLAR1111]

[@md-os6nk]

Thank you!

[@liancalyons]

You're welcome!

[@Dra_cula007]

I se my bipolarity the same, I have 24 years 😊ld And I am glad to hear this from a 41 years 😊ld woman, I was a bit Like that in taking my meds But I finnaly accept some of the things

[@fancykitty7245]

Thank u for your video.

[@liancalyons]

You're welcome!

[@vibhutikaul3836]

In Kashmiri, we call that burnt bottom rice- fuhur... And my dad loved it 💚

[@liancalyons]

my mom still gets mad if we throw it out LOL!

[@sureshbipolarengineer4727]

Hi vibhuti are you from India?

[@sureshbipolarengineer4727]

Also from which city due you belong in India?

[@vibhutikaul3836]

@@sureshbipolarengineer4727 Yes, Indian. There are a lot of Indians with the diagnosis.

[@sureshbipolarengineer4727]

@@vibhutikaul3836 you mean suffering from bipolar disorder?

[@steffna]

she didn't mention delusions, hopefully it's because she doesn't experience them...I have a male friend who just can't accept the fact he might need help...he's either manic or low (tried suicide once) and sometimes describes paranormal experiences when he is manic. I try to tell him it might be something else but he firmly believes he's just gifted and can see things, his passion for the esoteric is a worsening factor, because he is biased. How do I make him reason? It seems just like I can't, and if I try again I'm afraid he could get offended... :/

[@jananir7900]

Yes, he will get offended. If you could contact someone in his family, it might be better. He should be started on medication. He might have rapid cycling of mania and depression.

[@liancalyons]

He may be bipolar 1 or schizophrenic. And a lot of people enjoy manic phases. It's almost impossible to reason with them. Most times, people have to come to their own conclusions and resolutions. I do not have delusions.

[@shawnosborn8887]

If you think its a gift, you can have mine!

[@kamyepgatekeepa9732]

Thank you so much. 🙏🙏🙏💜💜💜

[@liancalyons]

you are welcome!

[@fancykitty7245]

Was just diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and now I feel not normal anymore. 😭

[@jtlege]

My doctor told me there is no such thing as "normal."

[@liancalyons]

there is def no such thing as normal. everyone has something.

[@ankurdangwar1599]

❤

[@lifeinlilac161]

S is also for SPIRITUAL!

[@lovelianca]

Yes!!!! I’m going to add that! Thank you!

[@lifeinlilac161]

@@lovelianca I went to rehab for alcohol addiction on my 39th birthday this year (May 14th). I was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder while I was there, also. I had watched your video a day or two before I went to rehab and wrote down your "MEDS" method in my journal 💚 I was happy to have that to look back on 😊

[@lovelianca]

J Suggs that’s AMAZING!!!! Way to go girl! You got this!

[@YesitisDex]

She's going through them highs again...

[@lovelianca]

Managing the highs and lows is what is key. As a bipolar person, we will always experience the highs and lows. It’s how we manage them that is important.

[@YesitisDex]

lovelianca correct, but how do we know we're going through those highs again and at the end, have nothing to show for??

[@lovelianca]

Watch! I don’t understand what you mean. My tribe holds me accountable and can also see when I’m manic. But i can also recognize and learn to ride the wave so to speak.

[@Matrioshka93]

« Gift » means « poison » in German, what I find very interesting, as bipolar discorder is a gift as poison.

[@justinhay30]

Hi Justin I have bioplar disorder 1type but I love Jesus

[@conquestadortheswan5490]

Thank You!

[@liancalyons]

You're welcome!

[@ankurdangwar1599]

❤