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Victoria Maxwell shares insights on her recovery process managing bipolar, psychosis, and anxiety. Maxwell says acceptance of her diagnosis was “the greatest liberator,” but it only happened after she met a healthcare team that was willing to work with her. “Once I did meet a psychiatrist and a nurse who really inquired about the reasons […]
Sexual health researcher Dr. Heather Armstrong and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell break down how bipolar disorder, mania, depression, and medication impacts sex, how to deal with hypersexuality and low libido, and strategies to improve your sexual well-being. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. (03:46) About Dr. Heather Armstrong(04:38) About Victoria Maxwell(06:32) How of Bipolar Disorder Affects Sex(09:23) Hypersexuality & Triggers(14:35) Low Sexual Interest(17:10) Talking About Sex Is Challenging(20:42) How Medication Affects Sex & Dysfunction(26:33) Warning Signs & Preventing Hypersexuality(34:15) Pornography/Masturbation Triggers Mania?(36:24) How to Explain Hypersexuality to Your Partner(48:21) Solving Low Desire & Building Intimacy(55:10) Shame & Recovery from Hypersexuality(59:54) Is Increased Sex Drive Always Bad? Dr. Heather Armstrong is an Assistant Professor in Sexual Health at the University of Southampton in Southampton, United Kingdom. She is also a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society. Her research primarily focuses on improving sexual health and well-being among sexual and gender minority people. She has presented her work at national and international conferences around the world and has published 60 journal articles and numerous book chapters. She is an Associate Editor at Sexual Health and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Sex Research, Archives of Sexual Behavior, BMJ STI, and the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. More on this episode: https://talkBD.live/sex #talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Learn more about the talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast and upcoming episodes at https://talkBD.live
Hello Beautiful souls. I am really excited to bring you this episode today, if you haven't already, go back and listen to the Witch Please episode where I interviewed Victoria Maxwell, what an incredible woman. So today I'm going to be talking to you about rituals and specifically rituals on the moon and why they're so powerful. If you found value from this episode I would LOVE for you to take a screenshot and tag me on Instagram @rebecca_welstead_green☼☽⋆°✧⋆°☼☽⋆☾☼☽⋆°.☾✨
Welcome beautiful souls, Today I am joined by the wonderful Victoria Maxwell, best-selling young author of the Santolsa Saga series and author of Witch, Please: Empowerment and Enlightenment.Website - https://www.newagehipster.co/Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witch-Please-Empowerment-Enlightenment-Modern/dp/0008406324Cards - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goddesses-Among-Us-Full-color-Guidebook/dp/1922579319/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=goddess+among+us&qid=1678355348&s=books&sprefix=goddess+among%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1If you found value from this episode I would LOVE for you to take a screenshot and tag me on Instagram @rebecca_welstead_green☼☽⋆°✧⋆°☼☽⋆☾☼☽⋆°.☾✨
Psychiatrist and clinical informaticist Dr. John Torous and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell speak on the role of online platforms and mental health apps in supporting mental health and bipolar disorder and how these technologies can be integrated into wellness and treatment plans. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. John Torous is director of the digital psychiatry division, in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospital, where he also serves as a staff psychiatrist and assistant professor. He has a background in electrical engineering and computer sciences and received an undergraduate degree in the field from UC Berkeley before attending medical school at UC San Diego. He completed his psychiatry residency, fellowship in clinical informatics, and master's degree in biomedical informatics at Harvard. Dr. Torous is active in investigating the potential of mobile mental health technologies for psychiatry and has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and 5 book chapters on the topic. He serves as editor-in-chief for JMIR Mental Health, web editor for JAMA Psychiatry, currently leads the American Psychiatric Association's Health IT Committee, and is a senior member in IEEE. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. #talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Learn more about the talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast and upcoming episodes at https://talkBD.live
Professor Dr. Sheri Johnson (University of California Berkeley) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss the relationship between creativity and bipolar disorder, how to maintain creativity outside of mood episodes, and answer questions from the TalkBD audience. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak. Dr. Sheri Johnson is a professor of psychology at the University of California Berkeley, where she directs the Calm Program. Her work has been funded by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Science Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. She has published over 200 manuscripts, including publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Abnormal Psychology and the American Journal of Psychiatry. She is co-editor or co-author of five books, including Emotion and Psychopathology and a best-selling textbook on Abnormal Psychology (Wiley Press). She is a fellow for Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the Association for Behavioral Medicine Research and the American Psychological Society. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. #TalkBD is a series of free, online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the upcoming and all past TalkBD episodes at www.talkBD.live.
Psychiatrist Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona (Anahuac University, Mexico City), and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss and answer your questions on mania and bipolar disorder, drawing from their lived and clinical experiences. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona is a member of the ISBD Board of Directors and works as an associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry for the Anahuac University in Mexico City, Mexico. He began his involvement with ISBD in 2008 as the founder of the ISBD Mexican Chapter and since then in key leadership roles: first as ISBD Secretary Treasurer and then as ISBD President, serving for two consecutive terms from March 2014 to December 2017. He was able to actively promote the Society and generate local chapters in several countries of Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He is passionate about providing education on bipolar disorders and using the Society as a game-changer in public mental health services. Since World Bipolar Day's inception, he has been involved in its global promotion and making connections with experts with the lived experience to generate community awareness and fight stigma. Dr. Sanchez de Carmona has more than 25 years of clinical experience treating mood disorders and is interested in diagnosis, early detection, and providing quality of life to patients. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. #TalkBD is a series of free, online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the upcoming and all past TalkBD episodes at www.talkBD.live.
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona (Anahuac University, Mexico City), and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss and answer your questions on psychosis and bipolar disorder, drawing from their lived and clinical experiences. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona is a member of the ISBD Board of Directors and works as an associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry for the Anahuac University in Mexico City, Mexico. He began his involvement with ISBD in 2008 as the founder of the ISBD Mexican Chapter and since then in key leadership roles: first as ISBD Secretary Treasurer and then as ISBD President, serving for two consecutive terms from March 2014 to December 2017. He was able to actively promote the Society and generate local chapters in several countries of Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He is passionate about providing education on bipolar disorders and using the Society as a game-changer in public mental health services. Since World Bipolar Day's inception, he has been involved in its global promotion and making connections with experts with the lived experience to generate community awareness and fight stigma. Dr. Sanchez de Carmona has more than 25 years of clinical experience treating mood disorders and is interested in diagnosis, early detection, and providing quality of life to patients. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. #TalkBD LIVE is a series of free, online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next #TalkBD LIVE event at www.TalkBD.live
What does it mean to be a "Wellness Warrior"? Yvette chats to Victoria Maxwell, a Writer from Canada, who uses her love of the theatre to both entertain and educate her audiences about mental illness. They chat about spirituality, bipolar disorder and how to tell a good story. Follow Mentally Yours on social media... www.twitter.com/mentallyyrs Join our private Facebook group... www.facebook.com/groups/135088803805742 And check out Victoria online... www.victoriamaxwell.com
Award-winning Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry Professor Felice Jacka (Deakin University, Australia) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss the importance of nutrition for mental health, provide practical tips on how to improve nutrition, and answer questions on food and mood. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Felice Jacka OAM is Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry, Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, and founder and president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. Professor Jacka has been responsible for the development of the highly innovative field of ‘Nutritional Psychiatry', establishing diet as a risk factor and treatment target for common mental disorders. The results of the studies she has led have been highly influential, being cited in more than 80 policy documents globally (e.g. WHO, UNICEF) and influencing clinical guidelines in psychiatry in Australia and elsewhere. She is widely recognized as international leader in the field of Nutritional Psychiatry research. She is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher (2020 and 2021), putting her in the top 0.1% of publishing scientists worldwide for impact. In 2021 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to Nutritional Psychiatry. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Dr Erin Michalak and Victoria Maxwell join me to celebrate World Bipolar Day on March 30th. These two lovelies have devoted their lives to Bipolar Disorder research. They have changed so many lives, mine included, by breaking down the stigma and providing the help and resources to those of us that have been longing to be heard. We learn about their brand new app and all the exciting research development coming to the Bipolar Disorder community. https://www.crestbd.ca/ http://victoriamaxwell.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Emma Morton (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell provide an overview of bipolar disorder, explain the different diagnoses/symptoms, the mood episode triggers and warning signs to look out for, and ways to stay well. Hosted by Dr. Steven Barnes. Dr. Emma Morton is a CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at UBC Psychiatry. She completed her Ph.D. and training as a psychologist in 2018 at Swinburne University, Australia, and moved to Canada to join the CREST.BD team as an Institute of Mental Health Marshall Fellow in 2019. Emma's research interests include quality of life, self-management strategies, and digital mental health tools for people living with mood disorders. She has clinical experience working in community mental health, early intervention, and hospital settings. Since being diagnosed with BD, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
2:00 | With the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, Ryan reviews what's happening with the Russian invasion and how the world is responding to the unprovoked military attack. 15:03 | Schulich School of Law Dr. Wayne MacKay and University of Ottawa Dr. Nomi Claire Lazar discuss the Emergencies Act being invoked on February 14, the dropping of it 10 days later, and the precedents set. 40:20 | Musician Ayla Brook on releasing an album just days before the pandemic, how he and his band, Ayla Brook & The Sound Men, have adapted, and the new mini-documentary film all about it. 49:52 | Mental health advocate Victoria Maxwell shares her personal journey through a bipolar disorder diagnosis, how humour and humility helped her comes to terms with her condition, and encouraging others do the same.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Nigila Ravichandran (Institute of Mental Health, Singapore), and award-winning mental health educator and performer Victoria Maxwell discuss medications used for bipolar disorder, including side effects, information on specific medications, and how medications manage bipolar disorder symptoms like mania, depression, and psychosis. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. Nigila Ravichandran is a Consultant Psychiatrist from Singapore with more than 20 years of experience in mental health in clinical, academic, and research fields. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and actively involved in teaching and mentoring junior medical and allied health staff. She has also been in volunteering and community work and is the Vice President of Club2Care, a charity organization geared towards educating the community at large and creating awareness about mental health. She regularly gets invited to give talks and training at community events, speak on television and radio and other media, speaks in webinars both in Singapore and internationally. She has been a Keynote Speaker and presenter in several international conferences. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Sleep expert and clinical psychologist Prof. Greg Murray (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell, discuss sleep-wake rhythms, and how routine in your life can stabilize your moods and symptoms of bipolar disorder. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Professor Greg Murray is the Director of the Centre for Mental Health at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, professor in Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University, and a practicing clinical psychologist. His major research interest is the chronobiology of mood, especially the relationship between sleep, circadian function, and positive mood states, and he has over 100 publications in this area. He is ranked in the top 1% of researchers worldwide in each of these fields, and is recognised as a world expert in bipolar disorder (top 0.1%, Expertscape.com). Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
In this episode of Finding grace, I am joined by my dear friend Victoria Maxwell or Vix also known online as “new age hipster”. Vix is a priestess, spiritual mentor in converse sneakers, author of “Witch please: Empowerment and Enlightenment for the Modern Mystic published with HarperCollins, and a new deck “angels among us”, blogger, YouTuber and she also runs a business mastermind group. She's also young person fiction writer with two published books. Vix is devoted to helping others reconnect to their own light, inner guidance and own power so they can live out their best and highest lives. We met via a friend some years and became friends, I'm excited to share Vix on here and am so proud of all she's achieved so far. In this episode: Vix shares what finding grace means to her and the journey that she's been on. She shares what led her to this work and the various career changes she's been on. We discuss empowered spirituality today and all the facets around this and why its important to make it work for you and where you're at rather than fixed ideals. She shares all about her books and what led her to write them. We discuss the new deck and how to work with it and what inspired it. She's about being an empath and how to navigate this. We talk tarot and where to begin, she provides a modern perspective on reading and learning it. We discuss where to begin if you're starting out on your spiritual path. She shares the practises that she's using now to support her life. We talk about intuition and empowerment and listening to yours on this path. Vix shares all this and more in this filled episode of her wisdom, we loved recording this. We hope you enjoyed this episode, we would love you to continue this conversation so reach out to us. If you would like to work with Vix or see what she's up to you can find : Instagram @newagehipster333 @victoriamaxwellauthor www.newagehipster.co where you can find out all the different things vix offers. Her books and deck are available via amazon and all major retailers and witch please is in all major book stores. You can find me www.hannah-wallace.com Instagram @thehannahwallace Twitter @hannahwallace_ Facebook Hannah Wallace @thehannahwallace Thank you so much for listening please share, subscribe and review its greatly appreciated, and I hope you find grace in your week ahead.
brain, learning, mental health, consciousness, psych ward, psychosis, damaged, meaningsHappy New Year to myself. It's 2017 wasn't sure if I'd make it. Remember before my birthday, I was in the psych ward, and I was turning 34. And I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it past 33 I was really afraid. So I made it through the year. And I'm in this tiny little room just because I can hear the TV noise through the floor in the living room. And I was in here anyway, I was looking for some information. And this morning, I did tiare trauma releasing exercise by Dr. briselli. It's the fourth or fifth time I've done it, I'm going to try and do it every other day or every few days. And it's also day four of taking EMP. I did take it this morning. And I didn't get any of that white stuff on my hands. But I was feeling pretty happy. For a while now I feel I feel right. I was jumping on my mini trampoline. And I felt like a good jump on it all day. No, then I shoveled some snow. I was looking through some of my binders of information from when I was doing all that research in the last couple of years. And I came across this paper that I have notes on from when I spoke with Victoria Maxwell, who is a mental health speaker and advocate and consultant. And I spoke with her on the phone. And we were talking about mental health. And she gave me this piece of advice. And it says first priority. Don't do anything to jeopardize your own mental health and own physical well being even when you're wanting to be of service. And she said this is an important guide post. And I found it interesting just because I feel like I know that working in mental health isn't good for my mental health. Yet, I'm still working in it. But I know I'm going to change that soon. It was a good reminder for myself though, because I probably spoke with her over two years ago. And I have a note about i a transgenic illness. And I didn't know what that meant. So I looked it up in it something about the illness being caused by the treatment. And I resonate with that in terms of how I was treated in the psych ward in April of last year now I can say of last year. And I also came across this sheet that I got when I saw this lady who does live blood cell analysis. I've seen her twice over the years. And she's always right on with what to do. And she even wrote, take em power 12 a day for two weeks. And I'm actually seeing her on Wednesday. So I'm gonna bring this and talk to her and see if she thinks I should do that. Or if I should just take a little bit like I'm taking or what I should do. And I found this paper I printed out on pyrole disorder. It's on pyrole urea. That's hard to say, and Candida. And I pulled it out of the binder just because I think Hyrule disorder is about something to do with hemoglobin. And right now I'm actually quite interested in this whole oxygenation thing. And blood flow and oxygen getting to the brain and blood flow through the capillaries and things. And it's interesting that pyrole disorder often needs a lot more zinc and B six. To help fix the problem. It almost seems like our blood cells aren't even being metabolized properly. It says pi roll a key component of him as an hemoglobin Is overproduced in the liver. The severity of this condition fluctuates wildly as it's strongly related to stress. And it seems like why would the liver over produce a component of heme, maybe it's trying to produce more blood cells because the ones we have aren't properly going through the capillaries or something like maybe it's trying to change the structure of the blood cell. I actually feel it's hard to really explain what I'm thinking about in terms of this. But it's sort of like, I think the brain is desperate for oxygen and nutrients that starved. And it could be that this is a different type of blood cell hoping to get to the other regions of the brain or there's so many different possibilities. But I'm just seeing this theme right now. Because I guess that's what I'm looking for around blood, blood flow, even earthing and sunlight and how that gets the blood flowing, I think. It says payroll a key component of heme is over producing the liver, and bone marrow, the surplus of Pyro binds to vitamin B six, and zinc and is excreted in the feces and urine. So this creates deficiencies in zinc and B six. And to me, that sounds like a bit of a desperate attempt to create more blood cells in a way like the body is creating more pyrole hoping to create more blood cells perhaps. But when it's not happening, then it has to be excreted. And then it's wasting the basics and the zinc. And it's saying that a big cause of the pyrole disorder is candida overgrowth. And it's saying pyrole disorder is a main cause of mental emotional disorders. Yeah, that's a really interesting paper, if you Google, pi, roll, urea. And Candida might at some point, go back to a ketogenic diet. If not, maybe do one day of fasting per week, because that helps to restore the mitochondrial function. And Dr. mercola is coming out with a book on this soon. And I'll probably get that book just because I know he's been researching it really intensely. And I found another presentation I saw, somebody was talking about how niacin, decreases dopamine activity. I'm not really sure how that plays in. But it's interesting, because I talk about dopamine. And I actually feel like there's this over emphasis on dopamine in the brain. And that could be what eventually causes it to sort of short circuit. Because you can think about, well, you need to use it or you'll lose it. And if you overuse it, you'll also lose it. Because if we're always working out one muscle, and we overuse it, we're actually going to disrupt the balance of the whole system. So it's not about just using it, it's about intelligently using it. We need to use other faculties of our brain to besides pleasure, pain. So it's interesting that people have this area of their brain sort of short circuit, and then we need a lot more niacin in order to suppress the dopamine. And I found this other bit of information I printed by Captain Randall. I don't know who this guy is. But it was really interesting to me when I read it. This was in June 2015, that I printed it. And he's talking in this paper and I haven't really read it yet about oxygen deprived energy starved areas of the body and how they turn into cancer or have offered to stick bugs and infections flourish in those areas because what they don't have oxygen. And I think the similar thing is actually happening with suppose with mental illness is that the brain is being deprived of oxygen. And it's not necessarily being deprived of oxygen because oxygen isn't going to the brain but We're not using it in the right way. So we're not allowing it to grow by actually using it and learning. Yeah, so I will read this one again, because he's talking about raising charge to facilitate oxygen delivery. He does say together with vitamin C, oxygen therapy should be basic treatment for depression and mental problems. And the main thing I wanted to find was these true hope studies that I knew I had. And these are just the abstracts, they're not the actual studies. But I might want to give it to my doctor and see if she's open to supporting me to come off my medication. I want to say, read these while I'm gone. And see if she'll be supportive because they talk so much about being person centered and everything, but will they really be person centered. And I also remember them talking about this study that they did, where they had this maze for rats or something. And there was normal rats, and then there was rats, they removed half their brain or something like that. And then they gave the rats that they removed half their brain EMP and the rats with half removed brains, and taking EMP did better than the normal routes. And they also talk about how the brain re grows with em powerplus. And I thought to look for that, because of how now I'm sort of thinking about this whole bipolar transconscious map consciousness phenomenon as brain growth. And I was remembering that I was talking about how it's like a second brain growth before I just remember that today. I was like, Oh, I was kind of talking about this. And now I'm coming across things that are talking about brain growth and brain plasticity. And I'm thinking about how this phenomenon seems to me, like the brain is trying to grow again. I think it's almost like a desperate attempt for the brain to start learning and growing again, because it's caught in such a habitual pattern, where it's not even really learning anything, it's just existing in a machine like nature of conditioned reflexes, and, and that way of existing and being isn't actually the way the brain is designed to be. So if there's certain preconditions met, it seems like the universe comes in, and starts to turn the brain back on to learning. And I don't think it's that mysterious, because our brains were learning to begin with. So it's just this programming got installed in our brains and stopped it from learning. And then it makes sense that that's not really real. So it's just a matter of that falseness, losing its grip and falling away and collapsing to some extent, for a short period of time, and then the learning process turns back on. And then when a person is learning, they're acting different ways. They're free from the prison of habit. And people think that they're mentally ill because of that. And the person gets really happy and excited and everything because it is pretty exciting to be here on earth with a brain that is able to learn. Just like when we were children, we were pretty darn excited. Our brain was fully engaged in learning. And I just find it really interesting how they talk about neuroplasticity, and how mental health would say while the brain is damaged, it's a it's a biological brain disease. But they're showing that through neuroplasticity, we can change almost anything in the brain. So I don't really think even if there is some kind of truth to that statement about it being some kind of pathology in the brain. Science is going to say, well, we can easily change that. Maybe not super easily all the time. So this whole story about buying into being defective permanently. Can't last I don't think and I don't really want to be a part of that story, because it's due to collapse upon itself. And I want to help that collapse upon itself in my life, because I don't subscribe to that. And I think the brain really wants to learn The brain is a learning and exploring device. And I listened to a TED talk that was super fascinating. And it was by a lady named Sandra bond, Chapman, and it was called flex your cortex. And she started with this example of how she met a boy. And her tape recorder was broken. And the boy had been diagnosed with severe autism with some kind of label about how he couldn't learn and was very impaired. And nobody could fix her tape recorder. And she'd taken it to different places. And, and this boy just took it apart and put it back together and fixed it in the snap of a finger. And then she decided to study neuroscience because of that. And right away, when I heard that, at the beginning of the talk, I was like, whoo, I want to listen to this because I find the autism spectrum fascinating because the brains learning in a different way. And I think it's an adapt ation of the human brain overall, evolutionarily, in order to continue learning, because that could be it that words, and our language has actually gotten to the point where it's preventing us from learning, we think, intelligence is words. But that example she gave, and my observations of it as well, is showing that it's just a different line of intelligence. And I think it's actually necessary because, like I said, words are preventing us from learning now, because we're so stuck in our own opinions and judgments, that we're not actually learning anything. And she talked about unlocking the immense potential of our brains. I think the universe, and our brains are trying to unlock the immense potential of our brains, our brains are trying to unlock the immense potential of our brains. So a brain can have this transconscious experience or process happen. And it's, I feel reinitiating learning process. And when that happens, it's confusing. Because we're actually used to operating with a brain that's not really learning much at all. It's absorbing a little bit here and a little bit there. But it's not actually engaged in learning in the moment, moment by moment. So it is initiated back to moment by moment learning, which can be scary, which can be confusing. It's not something we're used to. We used to be that way as kids. And she said, it takes one to two generations for scientific discoveries to to catch on. And she said, that is too long. And I agree. And I feel like if I work in mental health, I'll be participating in that slow one to two generation process. Whereas if I just work with myself, then it's going to be a lot faster. And then she shared seven secrets of the brain. And the one that interested me the most was when she said, her secret number four is big idea, thinking. So she's talking about taking in different bits of information, combining with old knowledge, and coming up with new ways of thinking that she said would be higher levels of thinking, like synthesizing extracting the essence of it, finding the meaning in terms of interpreting it, and using transformative communication as well. She said big idea thinking is what makes her thinking memory and learning most robust. And she said, when we engage in big idea thinking, it actually increases blood flow to the neurons by eight to 12%. And it also increases the speed of the connection of neurons in some areas of the brain by 30%. And how I relate this to my experiences that in mania, that's what it is. It's constant big idea, thinking. It's seeing the more it's extrapolating, it's interpreting it's processing. And, and with the speed of how it happens, it makes sense that certain connections would be happening 30% faster, and I actually feel like there is an increase in blood flow to the brain in that process. And I think it's actually happening because the brain is attempting to learn again. And I feel that's what can happen when the ego collapses is that all of a sudden, one thinks in a different way, because one thing's based on what one is perceiving. And she did a ton of studies and said that her studies show that big idea thinking, increases your brain health at all levels. And then I was thinking about my process of self dialogue, and how a lot of it is just me, synthesizing and interpreting things and making meaning out of things and, and adding things together to create higher levels and new ways of thinking, at least for myself, maybe other people have bought these things, too. And it's not about what it is, I'm thinking exactly, is not about anything in particular, it's not about the ideas and whether they're right or wrong. And I've said this before, it's about the process itself, the learning process. And if I think about mania, and map consciousness and transconsciousness, and how the brain is just really enjoying learning, by doing this process with myself, I'm actually engaged in that same thing, just to a smaller scale. I'm doing it consciously, with myself versus waiting for the universe, or whatever it is, to switch that process on in my brain. And it was interesting that I came across this talk, because I was thinking about, how do I increase the oxygen to my brain and the blood flow to my brain? Do I invert? Do I hang upside down? Do I go outside and walk barefoot? Do I get more sunshine? And those are two things I plan to do. When I go to California? Do I jump more on my mini trampoline, which is one thing I do. And I think that's something that probably helps with oxygenation of the body to and then I came across this talk and she's saying, one of the best things to do is actually think, think big. And when when we think about the brain, that's what the brain is for that is what exercises the brain is to think, in different ways and to see things in different ways. And I feel like math consciousness, since the ego collapses, or gets scrambled temporarily. Then all of a sudden, the brain. Strange. It's strange. The last couple of days have gone blank a few times. Just in the middle of my sentence, I have no, like, I feel like I know what I wanted to say or I was going to say, but it just stops. So she said, big idea thinking is brain exercise. So I'd like to think that mania is brain exercise is getting the brain to step outside its normal thought patterns. Because if we only are thinking a very small number of things, we're only seeing a very small number of things. And that's the thing the brain doesn't map consciousness is it's able to take many different perspectives because when it sees something, it can take that perspective. It can see how it works, it can understand it. So then it has taken that perspective. So it's a process of, I think the brain wants us to be able to see more perspectives than just our individual goals and success and our individual desires and pleasures, because the world can't take that anymore. And that's one of the reasons why somebody who goes into map consciousness feels so altruistic or mystical or, or powerful, because I think one's connecting with that power that if we were all really cooperating together, we wouldn't be that powerful. It's not a power that one individual actually has, because we're not actually individuals were the same consciousness. At that level of consciousness, we're all the same. And we would work together not for our own individual gratification, because we would see where that leads us. And she talks about the importance of innovating, and new things. And I think that goes along with big idea thinking is that everything feels new. And I think part of it, too, would be just seeing something in a new way. So one doesn't necessarily have to have this completely random and chaotic life, one can just be aware of seeing things in new ways, or suspending judgment. And then she talked about motivation to and how important it is. And I feel like if our brain is restored to learning, we're actually motivated. And I think that's why society as a whole is sort of collectively depressed, because a lot of our brain, we're sort of told to live a certain way. And we're not really exercising our brains, we're not really thinking for ourselves where we're being told what to think. And we have these repetitive thoughts. So we're not able to think for ourselves. And this, to me, also, I think, reaffirms what I was talking about in terms of how the prefrontal cortex is shutting down in favor of probably blood flow to other areas. This yapping has to shut down in order for us to learn and think and see a new, we stop learning when the prefrontal cortex gapping started, because we're hearing that, and that's getting in the way of actual learning, it's getting in the way of seeing, because we're actually only seeing our words, we're not seeing with the light of our consciousness. We're seeing images based on the stories that our own words are telling us. So we're not actually seeing what's in front of us, we have this projection superimposed over reality. And then we're not learning about reality as we go, we're, we're projecting from the past. So we're all living in the past, and we're not actually learning and how can we enjoy life when we're living in the past. So I think that was a really important video for me to watch at that moment, because it has large relevance to the self dialogue, because I'm utilizing self dialogue in a way to talk about the big ideas that I have about things and, and it seems like from what she's saying, that's going to exercise and grow my brain. And if my brain is wanting to grow, and one of the reasons why it goes into mania is in order to grow, even though it's kind of confusing, by talking about all of that, and creating that context, is creating the brain cells of that context by talking about it, instead of having this uncharted territory when I go into that state, if I get pushed into a super hyper learning state. And part of it too, is that I think that super hyper learning state of mania actually does damage the prefrontal cortex, because one is so hypersensitive and hyper perceptive to the society that we've designed, that as we go through it, we're learning all these beautiful things, but then we eventually learn all of these awful things about the way society has been designed, and it basically crushes us and I think that damages that part of the brain, because we see how damaging it is, and then it's very difficult to get back into recovering being able to utilize that part of the brain in the same way we used to because the point of the experience is to damage that and have other areas of the brain come online which are to do with Learning, not earning progress goals and at the expense of, of the planet and other peopleMore about this brain learning thing. Learning increases blood flow to the brain. Maybe that's the amount of blood flow we're actually supposed to have in our brain. But we don't, because we're not learning. And then the brain starts deteriorating. I actually feel like since Sandra bond Chapman said that big ideas are very important for the brain, that maybe I can share some even weirder stuff. As my brain goes there. I have weirder stuff written down in my notebooks, probably. But I haven't even gotten there. And it's hard to go backwards because I write so much in current time. And again, it's not about the ideas, it's about. If I would wish anything for somebody else it would be to be restored to learning. Our brains are wanting to learn again, and we're told to fear our own brains. We're told that our brains are defective. And you can go on Ted and listen to so many talks on neuroplasticity, saying, people who seem doomed with worse afflictions can get their brain functionality back. It's very plastic, sort of think it can be damaged. To me seems like a ridiculous notion. I feel like what's more important is to join with other brains and consciousness in order to have this flower into a different awareness. Not an awareness of being some kind of defective person. But an awareness that the brain is trying to come back online, and is trying to learn and is trying to come back online. So we cooperate together, and we take care of each other. I feel like in each crisis, so called crisis or episode, the brain is trying to learn how to take more perspectives. It's given me the experience of feeling like a homeless person, maybe so I know what it feels like to be a homeless person. And it makes sense that it would do that in order for us to be able to empathize with each other and not judge each other and understand each other and help each other more. I feel like each episode of so called psychosis is like the brain doing weightlifting. It's a hyper learning state, even if it's terrifying, or even if it's magical, it's hyper learning. It's new, it's something different than we're used to. So it's going to make the brain grow, not shrink. It's shrinking away from all that we used to think was important and meaningful. And that part of the brain goes offline somewhat. And then we're seeing as mentally ill because we don't subscribe to the meanings of society that we've been given and tricked into thinking that are what matters in life. And then the double whammy is that we get tricked into thinking that we are defective. And everything outside of our regular mode of perception is slightly confusing. It's uncharted territory. And each episode helps us learn to navigate that confusion. And confusion is necessary for growth. If we're never confused, that could be a problem, because then we're just knowing everything all the time. And if we're only knowing we're not open and curious, being confused, like that could actually provide a rich opportunity for learning. And it could be partly that we see that our thoughts are confusing. we confuse our thoughts with reality. And we're not only doing that in psychosis, we're doing that in regular consciousness. And those thoughts are telling us what is important, and what is meaningful and what we want. But that's not in alignment with the universe that's not in alignment with humanity. And so the universe comes in, and tries to erase a lot of what we think is meaningful in life. And we often feel very connected with other meanings. And then when we come back to this meaningless reality, we're told that all of that just means we're mentally ill, when that's why I feel like harvesting one's mania and practicing and embodying is important to do strength training. It's almost like we're given a blueprint in our brain, a blueprint of neurons for other territory, and other meanings and other ways of being. And we can still recall those, and go back there consciously, without having to have the confusion. And I feel like that state is the mind is the collective mind. And it's showing us it's trying to change our brain. So we'll create a different world, a world that we all want, even even people who would pathologize us would want this other world. And we're here to create that we're all together. We're here to create a world where everybody lives in harmony, not where people kill each other. Does that seem like such an unreasonable thing to think? I think if somebody is never confused, if somebody never has a change in consciousness, then one isn't learning. One is more like a drone. So called psychosis could be transconscious brain growth, when the brain goes up to different levels of consciousness, it grows. And it makes sense that the brain cells would get scared when it's coming back down to other levels of reality. I feel like the brain is having a growth spurt. And just like growth spurts physically can be painful. So can brain consciousness growth spurts. So I would like to put forth the idea of the brain growth theory of so called psychosis. And it's like a form of sensory substitution. We're less sensing our ego structure. That is a false structure that we've been given that we've been conditioned with. And we're more sensing our sensitivity, we're more perceptive. And in the society we've designed, it's actually not good, to me that perceptive as we see, because people who go into that form of perception, I think it actually damages the prefrontal cortex, because one sees how damaging the prefrontal cortex is, in that what it has created for us collectively as humans, isn't something we would design if we're in our right minds. And so a lot of it is recovery from society. And part of that is creating a new society. Who knows how to even go about that. But I think that people who go through transconsciousness would have a good idea of how to design a better society. And we might have to start with nothing with no money. We don't have money anyway. Where were you defective, according to society. But I feel like we could create a society that regular society would be wishing they could come and experience. And they talk about mental illness as having brain damage, and it gets worse over time. I think society is what damages the brain. So if it gets worse over time, it's that somebody that's hyper perceptive, is dipped in the poison of society. And over time, they're seeing more and more traumatic things and it is damaging their brains. And then the very paradigm designed to supposedly help just facilitates that process. The ego perspective gets damaged but we are given Infinite perspectives and that isn't damaged. And it's not allowed to flower because we're actually not talking about all the perspectives that we've, we've seen, we're not talking about our visions, we're not talking about our perception, we're not talking about our altruistic nature. People who pathologize us don't understand who we are in the heart. They're so busy looking at other things, they can't even see what we've seen. And then we come back here, and we can't even tell people what we've seen. But at least if we can talk to each other, then maybe we'll create enough brain cells in each of our brains, to protect us from pathologizing ourselves by taking somebody else's voice, who's told us how to think about ourselves after all of that, and, and turning it into a label. Society is not designed for infinite learning, it's designed to be a drone to be a robot. And recovery is about going back to just being a robot. I feel like map consciousness is perhaps a desperate attempt by the brain to restart itself. Because all that one values in their ego process is false. And a lot of times that happens sort of trauma, and then the ego process falls apart. And then one has access to transconsciousness. When the ego structure sees that what it's really valued has led it nowhere at all. Something happens where there's extra oxygen to the brain. And then the brain can learn. It's almost like the ego steals all the brains, oxygen. And I talked about in previous videos about how it wastes energy. And it could actually be that the prefrontal cortex is taking all the oxygen electrons all in negative charge into the prefrontal cortex and the other areas of the brain can't grow. So when we no longer identify with that, then our brains can learn. And it's interesting that it feels spiritual because learning feels spiritual. And in terms of learning, well, what do we need to learn? think it goes back to things like cooperation. I don't know how. And I think map consciousness tries to recalibrate the brain and body to cooperate. Our brain is in service of our ego. And it's not listening to our body. And it's not listening to the fundamental laws of human nature, either. I have a sense that what we're looking for is actually our own brain, our own unclouded brain. But how do we look for that with a clouded brain? We're clouding the very thing we're looking for. We're clouding the very thing we're looking with, is just clouded with a bunch of words. And I was thinking about medication and how it probably stops brain growth, probably stops oxygenation to the brain properly. And it stops people from thinking for themselves. And I feel like map consciousness is the brain or the mind trying to get the brain back interested in itself. Because if it doesn't become interested in itself, and its own ability to learn, instead of just earning and pleasure in things, it's degrading. So mob consciousness comes in and tries to make life interesting, tries to make it meaningful, tries to make it a different game. And, and all of a sudden, one is interested in learning because one finds every little thing interesting. And it's so powerful, like how could we not be so fascinated by that process? Even in retrospect after it stopped, but most of us aren't, we're like, wow, that was too scary. I'm just going to drug myself and so you don't stigmatize me and, and, and consider myself, a less than person. And it's not about mental health. This, it's about thought, old thoughts, habitual thoughts. And that's what degrades the brain. And then sometimes people get to the point where they have odd thoughts. But I think it's actually part of the process of getting out of the habit of thoughts that normally we are stuck in. And it's almost like the light of our vision has been turned into sound. So if a person has a quiet mind with no words in it, it's just silent. There's just light. And then whatever one sees, can sort of speak to the person. But if we're speaking to ourselves, we're obstructing the light of our vision. And we can't really see. And so we've turned our light, we've turned our vision into sound, that creates other images that gets in the way we're projecting. We're all living in a world of our own projection. we're projecting our own voice. And we're being used by it, we're not using it. We've been taught to be used by our own voice, instead of actually using it. Or perhaps, to use it to learn not to judge and argue and, and actually solidify our separateness and solidify our positionality ease and solidify our opinions. Most of our opinions we heard from somebody else. And then we translate it into our own voice, and then we think it's our opinion, but it's actually just programming. And then we're turned into minions. I feel like I need to grow into my own brain blueprint. It's like I was given a blueprint. When I went into map consciousness that very first time especially, and it grew some brain cells. That if other people grew those brain cells, that would be the world. But people have these limited separate brains. The map consciousness gives us a map for learning. It's not about those specific experiences, it's about the learning process itself. It's an invitation to think for ourselves about things because that was our own inner experience. Nobody else had that experience Exactly. People can't deny your inner experience, you could think about your inner experience, however you want to. And according to that Ted Talk, the bigger you think about things, the more oxygen you're going to have in your brain, the more blood you're going to have in your brain and watch out. Because you might actually get really smart. Part of the trouble actually is that people in regular consciousness with, with program brains don't really understand. So there's not very many people to talk to. Because you may as well be talking to a brick wall. So that TED talk really gave me the motivation to continue with self dialogue, and keep the oxygen goes into my brain. So that could be the main point to keep the extra oxygen going to my brain and keep my brain from shrinking back down to the level of society. The game of reality is dopamine pleasure seeking, and the universe is racing this program. So we need to find the new program and get with it. Which could be learning, being creative thinking for ourselves and thinking together with each other, and cooperating. Sounds like a more fun game.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bipolar_inquiry. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Al Etmanski interviews Victoria Maxwell, the Bipolar Princess. They discuss the role of art and creativity in the process of change, the dramatic increase in antidepressant prescriptions and the fact that depression is the number one source of disability in the world today. They also speak to the need for universal mental health care. Victoria explains why we need to shift from recovery as a possibility to recovery as an expectation. The episode ends with Victoria providing the answer to her most recent Psychology Today post, “Is there Love after the Psych Ward?" “Recovery shouldn’t be a possibility. It should be an expectation.” – Victoria Maxwell Read the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/victoria-maxwell/ ABOUT THE SERIES The Power of Disability is a series of Below the Radar. Host Al Etmanski brings us enlightening conversations, featuring guests with disabilities who have been influential in arts, activism, science, and more. This series is a continuation of the work Al has shared in the book, The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World, which reveals that people with disabilities are the invisible force that has shaped history. Hear more in this series: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/the-power-of-disability.html RESOURCES — Website and free newsletter: http://victoriamaxwell.com/ — Mental Health E-Guides (free and downloadable): http://victoriamaxwell.com/free-resources/ — “Crazy for Life: Escapades of a bipolar princess” via Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/crazy-life
Mental health advocates Don Kattler and Victoria Maxwell explore how to take care of your home while living well with bipolar disorder. They discuss how the ability to care for your home can serve as warning signs for mood episodes and how depression, mania and hypomania can affect our homes in specific ways. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Don Kattler is currently Policy Analyst with the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions (MMHA) on the Indigenous Partnerships and Wellness team. Don recently relocated back to Victoria, BC after spending the last eight years in Port Hardy, BC. Prior to joining MMHA, he spent the last five years with the Ministry of Children and Family Development as the Family Consultant for the BC Community Poverty Reduction Initiative. Previously, Don was with Island Health MHSU and has worked on ICM and ACT teams. In addition, Don managed several projects and programs on northern Vancouver Island, including the Housing First Initiative through the Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre. Don has also presented at The End of Poverty National Conference and the Canadian Rural and Remote Housing and Homelessness Symposium and was the recipient of the Camosun College's Promising Alumni Award in 2018. Since being diagnosed with BD, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Actress and host of the EmotionAL podcast Alessandra Torresani and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss topics of resiliency and living with bipolar disorder, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about peer support, creating boundaries and practicing self-care. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak. Alessandra Torresani is an actress, podcast host, and mental health advocate who lives well with bipolar disorder. Her television credits include appearances on American Horror Story, Caprica, and the immensely successful sitcom the Big Bang Theory as a recurring character. As a mental health advocate, she is an ambassador for the US-based National Alliance on Mental Health, and hosts the EmotionAL Support podcast, a funny, candid and highly-reviewed podcast where she brings on a guest to talk about mental health and to break through stigma. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Dr. Ivan Torres and Dr. Trisha Chakrabarty, professors in Psychiatry (University of British Columbia), and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss how bipolar disorder may affect cognitive processes such as learning, thinking, focus and memory. They delve into topics like how bipolar symptoms can affect cognition, and how to integrate self-management strategies into your toolkit. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak. Dr. Ivan Torres is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Psychiatry Department at UBC, and is affiliated with the BC Psychosis Program and the Mood Disorders Centre at UBC. In his primary clinical role, he serves as a clinical neuropsychologist within the BC Psychosis Program at UBC Hospital. His research interests include the study of cognitive and executive functioning in severe psychiatric disorders including Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Dr. Trisha Chakrabarty is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia. Her research and clinical interests are in cognitive dysfunction, virtual reality cognitive retraining, bipolarity, and psychotherapy approaches for mood disorders. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Thomas Richardson, and mental health educator and performer Victoria Maxwell discuss the topic of money in relation to bipolar disorder. They speak on how bipolar disorder can affect a person's finances and ways to plan for and manage these events. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. Thomas Richardson is a Clinical Psychologist working as an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology within the School of Psychology, University of Southampton. Thomas leads teaching about CBT for Bipolar Disorder on the CPT diploma and is actively involved in various research projects around Bipolar Disorder. Prior to this he worked for 8 years as a clinical psychologist in a community mental health team for adults within the UK National Health Service. He did his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton, qualifying in 2013. His doctorate thesis looked at if tuition fees increases impacted on student mental health, which led to his ongoing study of finances and mental health. Dr. Richardson also has lived experience of bipolar disorder. Since being diagnosed with BD, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
My guest today is Victoria Maxwell, aka the Bipolar Princess. In Victoria's one woman, international performance, "Crazy For Life", she talks about her own experience with having bipolar disorder in a hilarious, honest and moving way. Victoria was diagnosed with BP in her twenties, and struggled with her diagnosis and treatment in the beginning. No one wants to be nutbar, looney, loopy, or wacko. These are some of the many words we have for crazy, as Victoria has said. Shortly after Victoria had a psychotic episode and ran naked down a major Vancouver street, things began to be more clear. It was an eye opening experience. For literally everyone. There is so much stigma around metal illness, and even more misunderstanding about bipolar disorder. Talking with Victoria was such a weight off my shoulders. In her sharing her story, I was able to tell my own. Tune in for the season one finale episode. It's a doozy. www.victoriamaxwell.com Find Victoria's Mental Health Resource & Tips Free Guide here. Facebook Twitter Please also subscribe to Victoria's newsletter to download the Escape the Vicious Triangle of Anxiety, Depression and Perfectionism guide.
Dr. Elizabeth Tyler, a clinical psychologist and research fellow from Lancaster University, and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss the aging well with bipolar disorder, including themes such as loss, transition, symptom changes, and relationships. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Dr. Elizabeth Tyler is a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) fellow and lecturer in mental health based at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health. Elizabeth is a clinical psychologist with a particular interest in working with individuals with bipolar disorder. Her main research interests focus on developing evidence-based therapeutic interventions for individuals who have previously found it difficult to access psychological care. Elizabeth is currently leading a study that has adapted recovery-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for bipolar disorder to meet the needs of an older adult population. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Dr. Lisa O'Donnell (Wayne State University) and mental health educator, speaker, and performer Victoria Maxwell discuss various topics around work and bipolar disorder. This includes returning to work after COVID-19, working from home, and establishing a work-life balance. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak. Lisa O'Donnell joined Wayne State University's School of Social Work in 2017 as an Assistant Professor. She is dedicated to clinical and intervention research examining the nature of clinical and employment outcomes for mood and anxiety disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, as well as efforts to develop, refine, and implement evidence-based treatment. Lisa has been trained in various evidence-based treatments and has over 15 years of experience in delivering individual and group psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, and families. She is certified as a cognitive therapist through the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
In this episode I speak with Author, Starseed, Lightworker, Witch Victoria Maxwell!
Mental health educator Victoria Maxwell speaks on depression in bipolar disorder and how to manage it during COVID-19 lockdown and isolation - including ways to disrupt depressive episodes through behavioural activation techniques. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak and Dr. Emma Morton. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Professor. Greg Murray, co-director of CREST.BD and professor of Psychological Sciences at the Swinburne University, and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss how bipolar disorder affects sleep, how altered sleep is a risk factor for mood episodes, and how you can maintain your sleep when schedules have been significantly adjusted. They discuss cognitive behavioural therapy, ways to maintain routines, and answer important questions about sleep. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Greg Murray is the Director of the Centre for Mental Health at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, professor in Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University, and a practicing clinical psychologist. His major research interest is the chronobiology of mood, especially the relationship between sleep, circadian function, and positive mood states, and he has over 100 publications in this area. He is ranked in the top 1% of researchers worldwide in each of these fields, and is recognised as a world expert in bipolar disorder (top 0.1%, Expertscape.com). Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Clinical psychologist and co-director of the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research Professor Steven Jones (Lancaster University) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss substance abuse and bipolar disorder. They highlight the importance of accessing resources and services, recognizing triggers, and practicing self acceptance. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton. Prof. Steven Jones' primary research interest has been, for over 15 years, the psychology and psychological treatment of bipolar disorder and related experiences. He has over 100 publications on the subject, mainly on the development of cognitive behavioural approaches for bipolar disorder and on psychological models around the development and recurrence of experiences of bipolar disorder. He is also Co-Director of the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Professor of Clinical Psychology Professor Fiona Lobban (Lancaster University) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss managing family relationships and bipolar disorder, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic - including how to cultivate a positive emotional atmosphere in the home, how to maintain healthy routines and how to make the most of social supports. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak. Prof. Fiona Lobban specializes in improving psychosocial support for people affected by mental health problems and their families, with a focus on increasing accessibility to receive effective help. Dr. Lobban obtained her a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a PhD at the University of Manchester. Since 2008, she has been Co-Director of the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Psychiatrist Dr. Rob Tarzwell (University of British Columbia) and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss how to manage anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide management strategies such as acknowledging your anxiety, engaging in physical activities, and creating a schedule for your day. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak Dr. Rob Tarzwell is certified in both psychiatry and nuclear medicine by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. His main clinical and research interest is the use of functional brain imaging in diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. He is interested in new media as a clinical teaching tool, and created the One Minute Medical School channel on YouTube to disseminate videos on medical topics for a general audience. Dr. Tarzwell is also a co-founder of Viewers Like You Productions, a Vancouver and Toronto based film and television production company. He is very interested in the use of technology to improve healthcare delivery, and he is a Medical Director of Psychiatry for Medeo, a telemedicine company linking doctors to patients via encrypted video. Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
Award-winning mental health educator Victoria Maxwell, Dr. Emma Morton, and Dr. Erin Michalak share evidence-based strategies to help manage anxiety and mood, and support your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. Since being diagnosed with BD, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America's top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That's Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country. TalkBD is a series of online community gatherings to share support and tips for bipolar wellness. Learn more about the next event at www.TalkBD.live
In this episode of Waking Up Bipolar, Chris Cole speaks with Victoria Maxwell—mental health speaker, performer, and wellness warrior. She lives with bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis, and for more than 17 years has been presenting keynotes and workshops on mental illness and recovery, creativity, wellness and self-care.Victoria Maxwell’s keynote performances and workshops help individuals and organizations comfortably talk about mental health and better understand the ‘insider’s’ experience of mental illness and recovery. More importantly, she reduces stigma of this, one of the very last taboos, and offers hope and tools to build wellness to flourish in life.She’s a member of CREST.BD, a global research team on bipolar disorder, and blogs for Psychology Today. Her most recent keynote show, ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ was named one of the top evidence-based, anti-stigma interventions by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health honored her as a top Canadian leader in mental health. She’s appeared on CNN, in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.As you’ll hear in our conversation, Victoria Maxwell has a depth of wisdom and humility, which she utilizes on her own path of recovery, all the while helping others do the same. She calls to my mind what it truly means to be a wounded healer, and I am honored to present her now.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TzNU5y-ZZpUWatch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wakingupbipolar/videos/2015799888668856/Victoria Maxwell's Website: www.victoriamaxwell.comPsychology Today Blog https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/crazy-life “Crazy for Life: Escapades of a Bipolar Princess”JOIN THE DISCUSSION at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakingupbipolarChris Cole hosts the Waking Up Bipolar podcast, focused on the intersection of bipolar disorder and spiritual awakening. He is the author of The Body of Chris: A Memoir of Obsession, Addiction, and Madness, inspired by his own journey of spiritual unfolding and mental health challenges. Chris Cole offers life coaching for any number of mental health conditions, specializing in bipolar disorder and spiritual emergence. Chris’s experience with addiction, disordered eating, body dysmorphia, psychosis, and spiritual emergency allows him to relate to a wide range of clients. He utilizes a holistic approach to mental health which views wellness in physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual domains. Learn more about Chris and his work at colecoaching.com.The Waking Up Bipolar podcast in now available on the following platforms:Apple Podcasts | apple.wakingupbipolar.comGoogle Play | google.wakingupbipolar.comStitcher | stitcher.wakingupbipolar.comTuneIn | tunein.wakingupbipolar.comwakingupbipolar.com
Join two-time CBS Survivor contestant, Spencer Bledsoe, and health and wellness blogger, Laura Bocianski as they share why they're starting a podcast about mental disorder.Here's what we cover:Why "Redeeming Disorder"Spencer's battle with depression as a 10 year oldLaura's life-altering traumatic brain injury and bout with depressionOur plans for Redeeming DisorderLinks from Episode 1:Opening excerpt: Victoria Maxwell's Psychology Today articleNew York Times article: Post-Prozac NationWikipedia's Functional Analytic Psychotherapy descriptionJoin our conversation and quest to better understand mental disorder!Tweet with SpencerTweet with LauraFollow our blog
One of the most essential wellness tools, though often overlooked, is humor. In this podcast, I've interspersed scenes from comedian/playwright/actress/Psychology Today blogger Victoria Maxwell's one-woman show, That's Just Crazy Talk, with our interview. Join us as we laugh despite the heartache that is common to the bipolar experience! We talk about humor's role in breaking stigma and surviving bipolar disorder.
Actress and playwright, Victoria Maxwell speaks with DBSA's Maria Heim about her role as a mental health educator. Maxwell talks about her diagnosis and how she has learned to use humor as a wellness tool.
The "Damn Yankees" production team - legal counsel Robert Barandes, press representative Peter Cromarty, advertising representative Rick Elice, producers Mitchell Maxwell and Victoria Maxell, and general manager Charlotte Wilcox - discuss obtaining the rights, using a two-level structure of producing starting with an out-of-town production at the Old Globe, the finances of booking a Broadway theater, a new logo for an extensive ad campaign, and how the baseball theme provided many PR opportunities.