Julie L. Spencer: Learning to Live with Bipolar Disorder

2022/1/19

Stories of Hope in Hard Times

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Shownotes Transcript

Can a person with a bipolar disorder live a normal life? Julie didn’t know she had a mental health issue until she was in her late twenties, and once she got help learned to thrive.

Episode Discussion Points

Changing the World One Story at a Time
As a teen she started exhibiting symptoms of Bipolar disorder, but didn’t get diagnosed until her twenties
So, Julie got into alcohol, and that is why what she writes tries to teach teens to stay away from it because she knows what it did to her.
Julie describes bipolar disorder as like bugs crawling under your skin and no matter how much you scratch, you can get rid of the itch. So, that is why a lot of people with symptoms end up turning to drugs, alcohol or promiscuity to try to “self-medicate” and escape.
Julie ended up getting pregnant in high school, but she feels getting pregnant saved her because she stopped drinking for the baby.
After marrying her high school boyfriend who was an alcoholic, but she and her daughter were abused by him, until her mom helped her escape.
If you or someone you love is in an abusive situation they need to escape you can call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-799-7233.
She went back to college, married her forever husband and figured out during a Chemistry class that the lithium she was taking often helped people with bipolar disorder.
A psychiatrist was able to finally diagnose her and get her on medication.
A story where the stress of a job almost killed her because she became so depressed.
Coping mechanisms she has used: finding a safe place to retreat and decompress or getting a hug from her husband really help.

Connect With Julie

authorjuliespencer.com)
You can also connect with her on Facebook as Julie L. Spencer)
You can also purchase any of her books on Amazon.)

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Transcription