Advertise on podcast: Mequell Buck: Thriving with Mental Illness

Mequell and Adam are joined by Andrew Ramirez, a school counselor living with Bipolar Disorder type 1, PTSD and OCD. Andrew is the face behind @bipolar_realtalk, an account Mequell follows because of his fabulous motivational (but realistic) posts about WINNING every single day. He lives by the acronym R.A.G. which stands for Routine, Awareness and Gratitude. Guys, Andrew is beyond cool, beyond insightful and extremely generous sharing his background and not only how he got to where he is today, but what he's learned from it as well. If I was a high school kid, I might have a bit of hero worship for Mr. Ramirez. Ok, let's be honest, I'm a grown up and I still have a bit of hero worship for him. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam are joined by the incredibly lovely actor Alexia Fast to talk about her experience living with a bipolar diagnosis. She shares why she has recently chosen to be public with her story and what it has looked like for her in the movie industry. She is charming and gracious and after listening to her episode, you will fall in love with her too, just like we did. Follow her at @purealexiafast on Instagram Alexia is an ambassador for the Stigma Free Society --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam are joined by Dr. Kim Buck, PhD, LPC, CCS, CSAT Yes, that's a lot of acronyms but she's a whole lotta awesome so that checks out. She talks about the new direction of counseling with a prodependent focus instead of a codependent one. She discusses what healthy boundaries look like and how to support someone in crisis. Go listen! You are going to realize quickly that "a whole lotta awesome" is a massive understatement. https://familystrategies.org/kim-buck/ https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Prodependence-Alternative-Codependency-Treatment-ebook/dp/B09YWPDSG6 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam are joined by Kevin & Margaret Hines for their first ever "couples double date" on the podcast. It did a not disappoint. We hit the jackpot convincing Margaret to join us on the podcast along with Kevin and we absolutely love her humor and pragmatism. She offers some extremely insightful advice on how to thrive as a couple and truly become teammates battling against the illness and winning. Kevin survived a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000. He was one of 0.1% of people to miraculously survive the jump. He travels around the world delivering his important message that no matter how hard things get, there are ways to cope and lift others so that we can all "Be Here Tomorrow". He is caring and powerful radiating kindness and a genuineness that is hard to come by. Separately, they are each incredible people who we are lucky to know. Together, they are an absolute powerhouse. You are invited to listen in on our "couples double date" but you have to bring your own treats. Instagram: @kevinhinesstory @marghines @hinesightpodcast Website: https://www.kevinhinesstory.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam spend the episode talking about things they've been grateful for this year. Hint: the AMAZING listeners are top on the list. Thank you to all of you! Much Love xoxo Mequell and Adam mentalillnesswarrior.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam go through the whole discussion of why they landed on meds. (For a revisit of all the other avenues they tried refer to Ep. 5: Sifting through Treatment Options). Even though they are solidly in the camp that medication is required for her management, there are people who are able to maintain stability and manage using different treatment options. The key is to WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS! No one should be making the decision to go on or off meds unless working with a psychiatrist. Aaaand the main reason Mequell and Adam are so loud with beating the medication drum is because it seems like all the other voices are Anti Meds and frankly, the discussion just needs to be balanced since meds literally saved Mequells life. mentalillnesswarrior.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam are joined for a few precious minutes by the amazing Jen Hilderbrand as she prepares for the 3rd Annual Hope Gives Gala. Kevin Hines, Golden Gate Bridge suicide survivor and filmmaker, will be the featured speaker for this years event. In 2016, Mental Health America awarded Kevin their highest honor, The Clifford W. Beers Award for his efforts to improve the lives of and attitudes toward people with mental illnesses. To say we are giddy with excitement would be a massive understatement. We are so privileged to work with the incredible foundation Hope Gives and to have the opportunity to interact with so many who work diligently to make the world a better place for the Mental Illness Warriors and the Cheerleaders who love them. Xoxo https://hopefoundationgives.org/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hinesights-podcast/id1588982092 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam talk about the benefits of letting people in and site the 988 Suicide Hotline for examples of what you can say to ask for help. It takes way too much energy trying to hide how we're really doing and also takes away others ability to truly help us. Asking may not be as hard as you think. https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/ mentalillnesswarrior.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam site a study (gotta get the deets from Adam but he's out of town lol) and discuss the concept of self-stigma (the shame and embarassment we put on ourselves) when living with mental illness. It can cause very low self-esteem and prevent us from focusing on the things we can control thus preventing us to live well with mental illness. We can fight the self-stigma by: 1) educating ourselves (go listen to Ep. 1 - What is Mental Illness) 2) becoming an advocate (go buy a cool Mental Illness Warrior sweatshirt) 3) getting treatment from professionals (psychiatrists and therapists who can help us reframe our narrative and give us tools to cope) 4) focusing on our strengths 5) understanding that a mental illness diagnosis doesn't define who we are get your MIW sweatshirt here www.mentalillnesswarrior.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam share from the Advocacy for Change Project things that suicide attempt survivors wish their families knew. Some of them might surprise you! Tune in to hear ways that we can show love after a suicide attempt and ways that society sometimes shames those reaching out for help. https://mentalillnesswarrior.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam share tips from an article (and ok, from personal experience as well) about what to say to help when someone is suicidal. You are not required to know how to deal with it, you're just required to facilitate getting them help. And the red flags to let you know when it's urgent might be much smaller than you're thinking even though they're there. Tune in for the discussion! https://mentalillnesswarrior.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message

Mequell and Adam address a frequently asked question about what role do life coaches play in the mental illness world? There is no substitute for qualified, licensed and experienced professionals when dealing with something as serious and nuanced as mental illness and the stakes are too high to be wrong. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mequell-buck/message