Bipolar disorder is often portrayed as dramatic swings between mania and depression, but the reality is far more nuanced. Louise Barnett joins this episode to discuss her upcoming memoir, Tainted Love: A Bipolar Memoir, releasing October 6th. Louise shares her deeply personal 15-year journey living with undiagnosed Bipolar I Disorder, the ways she attempted to quiet the storm in her mind through self-sabotage and substance use, and the long road toward diagnosis, acceptance, and healing.

This conversation explores identity, recovery, relationships, and the courage required to tell the truth about our experiences. Whether you live with bipolar disorder, support someone who does, or work in mental health or addiction treatment, this episode offers insight, hope, and a reminder that healing often begins with honest conversation.

About the Guest

Louise Barnett, author of Tainted Love: A Bipolar Memoir, is a Jay Shetty–certified life coach, and host of the Unmasking Sobriety & Mental Health podcast. Living with Bipolar I and sober since 2021, she writes and speaks about the gray areas of mental illness, addiction, relationships, and identity. Her work explores the complexity of recovery and the courage it takes to live honestly, imperfectly, and out loud after years of masking and self-destruction. Based in Colorado, Louise is dedicated to her mission of “creating survival guides out of our collective stories.”

Links:

• Social Media:
  • https://www.instagram.com/louisedbarnett/?hl=en
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisedbarnett/
  • https://www.facebook.com/Louisedbarnett
  • http://tiktok.com/@louisedbarnett
• Podcast
  • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unmasking-sobriety-and-mental-health/id1652740406
• Website: https://www.louisebarnett.com/
• E-mail: hello@louisebarnett.com

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Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.