this is bipolar | CONVERSATIONS WITH - Maria Fernandez - part 1

*trigger warning: This episode contains a suicide survivor story.
We are so excited to introduce the first interview in our NEW series called 'Conversations With'! Mental Health Advocate Shaley Hoogendoorn talks to Maria Fernandez about her unique experience living with bipolar disorder. Maria shares with us what it was like to have mental illness from a very young age and how it affected every part of her life. Maria's story is one of struggle and heartache but it is also a story of resilience and survival. Maria is real, honest and brave and we feel honoured that she trusted us to hold space for her story. Maria's story is not over yet. This is bipolar...
Meet Maria:
Maria Fernandez is a dreamer, the kind of woman who's imagination delights in
museum tours, Broadway productions and salsa dance classes. She is a
lover of creativity in all its forms and she finds these pursuits to
be her greatest adventures, truest joys and most beloved passions. In
addition to these, she is also an advocate for mental illness who has
spoken about the realities of her diagnoses at Wraparound Conventions,
on the Catholic Radio Network station and at various youth groups. She
is a certified Peer Mentor and has been one of the leaders in the DBT
mentoring program at Compass Behavioral Health. Maria is passionate
about fighting stigma and creating a world of compassion,
understanding and love. You can connect with her through email at
[e-mail]
instagram - @this.is.bipolar
#thisisbipolar​ #thisisbipolarvlog​ #thisisbipolarpodcast​
SHALEY HOOGENDOORN
@messybeautywithshaley
Julie Kraft
@julie.kraft.author
www.juliekraft.com

[@6134219331]

Wow, other than the hospitalization, I so identify with your experiences as a child, teen. However, I am now in my late 50’s and was only diagnosed as bipolar 2 a few years ago. I went through most of my life just thinking I was weird and crazy. Finally being diagnosed has actually been a blessing. At least now so much of my life makes sense.

[@thisisbipolar]

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this episode and share some of your story! We're so thrilled that you were able to relate to much of Maria's story! This is the entire purpose of this new storytelling series- to connect us through our shared experiences! We're not weird or 'crazy'.... and we couldn't agree more - our diagnoses have offered us reasons and answers... and made so much of life make sense! Wishing you all the very best on your mental health journey!

[@yodafannie]

Do you have a family history of a parent etc also having it ?

[@mollieseifert]

I am wondering is Maria ever stayed in touch with that friend that saved her. She talks about her in the past tense but I wonder what happened there

[@MariaFernandez-lf7bj]

Hi Mollie! It's Maria here. Sorry it took so long to see this. I just got the alert for some reason. Theres no easy way to say this... my best friend died by suicide 6 months after my suicide attempt in 2015. I miss her but I know she's resting peacefully in heaven now. I talk to her all the time and pray for her every night. She was a one in a million kind of friend and I'm forever grateful for her love!

[@mollieseifert]

@@MariaFernandez-lf7bj that’s heartbreaking! And I am so sorry. I thought it was something seeing as you spoke about her in the past tense.
I enjoyed listening to your story, it was so full of strength and resilience. As someone recently diagnosed bipolar I related to a lot of it especially the rapid cycling. All the stories are so different it really shows the variety in the disorder