Do you know anyone who experiences high days then the next minute you turn around they are at the lowest point of their life? Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental condition that includes extreme mood swings.

The reason for this disorder is unknown. It may be genetics, environment, altered brain chemistry or maybe even a combination of all. What does the life of one diagnosed with bipolar disorder look like?

Mrs.Diana Mosley, a bipolar patient, who is now a successful business woman shares her story with her struggles and obstacles she faced. 

Highlighted Quotes:

“What I was doing was abnormal, over the top, not normal”

“The extreme lows were suicidal thoughts, depression, and the lowest it could possibly go”

“It was always chasing something and never just being happy with what I had and not being happy with who I was”

It's 2023, not 1960. 

We live in a world where electronic devices are there at any turn, are in any pocket, and are in any hand. 

Where there are phones, there is social media.

Where there is social media, there are pictures online.

Pictures with lighting enhancement, filters, photoshopping, editing and much more.

Seeing these pictures leads to a body dissatisfaction and wishing that one could change the way they look.

These photos aren't just photos people view online; they increase body image insecurity and negative self-talk offline as well.

What is the correlation between the media and the way we view our bodies? 

What do teenagers do with a phone? Click on an app, swipe, and watch… 

That watching affects the mental health of many teenagers and creates behavioral problems and outburst of emotions 

Many questions may arise when you hear the phrase “social media and body image”

To answer those questions join me on this episode with Dr.Len Newman, a professor of psychology and a social psychologist at Syracuse University Who conducts research on a wide range of mental health topics

He specializes in the different effect social media pictures have on body image

Join me on my next episode on bipolar disorder and the day to day life with one who is diagnosed

Lastly, email me at mentalhealthimage@gmail.com for questions you would like answered or any concerns!

Highlighted Quotes: 

“ ‘I wish I looked like that’, it is possible that spontaneously that is your first reaction, to compare yourself”

“We compare ourselves to others more than we are consciously aware we are”

“There are media effects on people's bodies satisfaction” 

Are you a teenager that constantly picks at specific parts of your body appearance you don't like? Are you constantly flooded with negative comments? Then you may want too look into BDD. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is the constant obsession with body image and the continual worry about flaws and how others perceive your opinions. In this episode we have a guest, Dr.Cynthia Van Golen a professor of neuroscience at the University of Delaware. We will go over the factors that play a role in BDD, the symptoms, the effects in behavior as well as go over questions you may have.

Body dysmorphia and the feelings along with it can affect lives. 

Hiding, feeling ashamed, embarrassed, can happen one day and the another day you are basically being eaten alive by negative self comments.

Covering yourself, going to extreme lengths to hide yourself, constantly picking at yourself wishing you could look different. 

The list of the thoughts that go around in patients diagnosed with BDD is endless.

People have negative thoughts which leads to depression, suicidal thoughts and more. 

This can be caused by a variety of reasons whether it may be the environment all the way to childhood drama.

And many more factors.

So how can we help those who are diagnosed? 

Today we will answer this question with Dr.Cynthia Van Golen 

Dr.Cynthia Van Golen is a professor of neuroscience at Delaware State

It is vital to create a safe environment, make them feel comfortable and most importantly to be in a complete judge free zone.

Letting an individual open up is the first step in getting better.

Once that is established, help is the next step. 

There are different treatments whether it may be therapy or medication or sometimes both. 

How would I even know if someone is diagnosed? 

What do I look for?

To dive into these answers check out this episode on BDD with our guest speaker Dr.Cynthia Van Golen for more. 

Join me on my next episode on how social media pictures affect teenagers where we can dive into the main root of this arising BDD problem 

Lastly, email me at mentalhealthimage@gmail.com for questions you would like answered or any concerns!

Highlighted quotes:

“BDD is a gradual increase from an obsession of their appearance to the point it's affecting school, work, etc.” 

“BDD and OCD have a very similar incidence.” 

“This isn't ego, this isn't self absorption, there are changes that actually occur in the brain with people with BDD meaning this is a true illness.” 

“If this is something you are facing, get help and do not feel alone.”