A mental health diagnosis can affect many aspects of romance, intimacy and partnership. For those living with bipolar disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood shifts between emotional highs and lows, navigating mental health and romance involves communication, care and breaking down stigma — both internal and external.
Host Anita Rao talks with writer and advocate Michelle Yang, who was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder when she was in college, and her husband, Bob Zammit, about navigating mental health in their marriage. Michelle also shares how her family talked about mental health when she was growing up, and she and Bob discuss how they’re raising their son to be mental health-conscious. Michelle is the author of the forthcoming memoir: “Phoenix Girl: How a Fat Asian with Bipolar Found Love,” and the writer behind this HuffPost essay.
Anita also talks with writer and poet Hannah Blum, who self-describes as a lover of dating. Hannah talks about how she brings up her bipolar II diagnosis in new relationships, the importance of mental health care in all sides of a partnership and what it looks like for her to find support in both romantic and platonic relationships. Hannah is the author of “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?”
Special thanks to April and Miguel Mansilla, Noah Dyson, Ella Finch and DJ Chuang for contributing to this episode!
