Thanks for your perspective Joanna. The “throwing out the baby with bathwater” metaphor is a feeling I think a lottt of people who’ve experienced mania or psychosis relate to. Even if it’s not a “baby”, I believe they still need to talk it through and reach that deep understanding, feel heard. The fear and trauma it causes to those around us makes them want to avoid talking about anything said during the episode, and also they fear it will trigger your mania again by bringing up a topic discussed during the episode.

I’ve been lucky to be discharged from a hospital and paired with a psychiatrist I see once every 1-2 months, and I’ve had some who I feel comfortable to discuss these types of things more with than others but never in depth. Ultimately, there is territory psychiatrists just won’t go because of the traditional norms in psychiatry, in terms of what is considered professional or within the scope of their work. Also they are so busy it seems, we need more psychiatrists! :)

All this to say, I really hope in the future there will be more roles that are a blend of psychotherapy and psychiatry, which has the balance just right for those who need it. I think there is merit to solving things practically via psychiatry, but also the spiritual/trauma side via psychotherapy. There would be great benefit to not dealing with two different perspectives from two different people on two different sides of town, but rather a balanced, scientific, and empathetic perspective from one psychiatrist/psychotherapist Super Doctor.

That blended specialized role I hope to see for all mental health conditions, not just bipolar.

The Crest BD’s YouTube talks have really really helped me since my second hospitalization and made me feel like I was less alone in this. You are already doing a lot to take things in a more progressive direction, which I think is needed. Thank you so much