Stephanie Marie Episode
In the latest episode of the Empowerography Podcast, my guest is Stephanie Marie. Stephanie is a freelance marketing copywriter, a podcast host, of the podcast Cutting Through Chaos, a wife and a Mom to two boys and a huge mental health advocate. In this episode we discuss writing, copy writing, bi polar, mental health, podcasting, Hypomania, euphoric and dysphoric mania and some of the stigmas around mental health.
My name is Steph, I'm a mom of two young boys (4 and 6), married to a compassionate and wonderful man named Darren, and I'm a freelance marketing copywriter and host of the Cutting Through Chaos podcast. Four years ago my world was rocked by a diagnosis of rapid cycling bipolar disorder type 2.
For months after my second son was born, I experienced a very deep depression; my husband begged me to seek help so I finally spoke with a therapist and a psychiatrist. I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression. Then, when I experienced an undeniable hypomania (during which I invented 4 baby products in a week, one of which I'm currently sourcing manufacturing for today) it opened the door during therapy for exploration into more "highs" like these. Through therapy and work with a psychiatrist, we discovered I have bipolar disorder type 2 which rapidly cycles. That just means that on paper I experience at least 4 periods of hypomania per year (in reality, it is MUCH more than that). My depressions are low - I've had suicidal thoughts - and my hypomanias are about more than just lots of energy. I also experience irritability, agitation, pressured speech, grandiose thoughts. I often start many projects, then once I plunge into a depression, those projects are left forgotten because I can't work on or finish them.
In addition to having bipolar, I am also sober. My journey to sobriety was a long road. I struggled with alcohol since my teen years. During my journey with alcohol, there were great amounts of shame. I "quit" drinking countless times to prove I didn't have a problem, then I'd just start back up and it would eventually spiral out of control once again. Once I had children I was very much engrossed in mommy wine culture, which boasts day drinking, even during play dates - which, for me personally, carried on alone into the evenings. The combination of drinking and bipolar is very chicken and egg for me: which came first? Was bipolar exacerbating my drinking or was I drinking to cope with having bipolar? Perhaps both. The two are intertwined and it's hard for me to separate them.
I got sober in August 2019 and that's been a journey unto itself. Through much therapy, sobriety groups, and coping with my bipolar, I've found a strength and a passion to help others. I share my story so others can identify themselves in pieces of it and not feel so alone. I've also found a passion to help people share their stories. I believe that together, we can foster solidarity.
So in May 2020, I started a podcast called Cutting Through Chaos, which explores the world of bipolar and all it entails. I speak with people who have bipolar disorder to hear their stories. I also speak with those who love someone with bipolar disorder for their perspective. And finally, I speak with experts to gain their invaluable insight. The more those of us with mental illness feel comfortable talking about our mental illness, the less stigma will exist and the more people will feel encouraged to seek help.
Website - www.cuttingthroughchaospodcast.com