The Bipolar Buzz

For almost 36 years, Alexis grew up believing that she was white and Mexican. She got the shock of a lifetime in July of 2021 when she received her Ancestry DNA test results and discovered that not only was her raised father not her biological father but also that she is a mixed race Black woman rather than a mixed race Mexican woman. In this episode of the Bipolar Buzz podcast, Alexis shares with us the different layers of trauma she experienced as she learned the truth. She also walks us through how she is embracing her new identity and maintaining her mental and emotional health as she continues to process and heal from her DNA surprise. Alexis is the host of the DNA Surprises podcast, where you can go to hear more stories like hers. You can also follow her on social media @dnasurprises.

Have you ever been doing so well mentally and/or emotionally that you started to question whether you have a mental health diagnosis at all? That's what I'm talking about in this episode. Diagnoses - especially mental health ones - are complex. Different people can have the same disorder yet present quite differently. My diagnosis was never simple to begin with; there was confusion among mental health professionals about what my label was in the beginning. After receiving the diagnosis that I knew best explained my symptoms, at times I fell into imposter syndrome. During periods of "normalcy," I would question whether I made it all up. Can you relate?

"Withdraw." A word that changed my life. It's so easy to remain stuck in a routine or in a place simply because it's all you know or because it's comfortable for you or because it's what you always wanted. However, sometimes in order to protect our mental health, we have to quit in order to not give up on ourselves. Check out this episode to hear how my therapist at the time encouraged me to quit in order to protect and nurture my mental health.

Jessica Rambo, a Marine Corps veteran, is the founder of a non-profit organization called The Painted Buffalo. The aim of the organization is to give veterans a space to unpack and share their stories through art, which is one of Jessica's passions. In this episode, Jessica shares The Painted Buffalo's origin story. Her love of country and art turned into her dream career - a camerawoman for the Marines. Due to a motor vehicle accident, Jessica had to retire from the military, but that doesn't stop her from continuing to serve. You don't want to miss Jessica's inspiring story of overcoming both physical and mental health challenges to get to where she is today.You can learn more about The Painted Buffalo by visiting paintedbuffalostudio.com and following @the.painted.buffalo on social media!

Mental health advocacy can take place on scales big and small and anywhere in between. Actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her father as a way to destigmatize mental health in the black community by improving access to mental health resources. Listen to this episode to learn more about the goals and initiatives of Taraji's non-profit organization as well as how her organization is meeting black students where they are.

Honesty and openness about personal mental health struggles can build trust and relationship. With regards to healthcare access, it is my opinion that stigma is a barrier that sets mental healthcare access apart from physical healthcare access. In this week's episode, I talk about how public figures can use their platform to help destigmatize mental health and create safe spaces for people to improve and maintain their mental well-being.