DeepSummary
In this episode, writer Naomi Jackson reads from her essay titled 'Her Kind on Losing and Finding My Mind' which details her experience with bipolar disorder. She recounts the events leading up to her diagnosis in 2018, including symptoms like swollen feet, mood swings, insomnia, and impulsive behavior. Jackson also describes a frightening episode where she was acting erratically in public and the police were called, highlighting the added fear and precautions she had to take as a Black woman with mental illness.
Jackson reflects on the history of mental illness in her family, including her grandmother and mother who also struggled with mental health issues. She discusses the challenges of navigating her illness through the lens of racism and the need to present a certain 'professional' persona to protect herself. The essay also touches on postpartum experiences, her journey to stability through therapy and writing, and her hopes for open conversations about mental health with her child.
Throughout the reading and discussion, Jackson provides poignant insights into the intersections of race, gender, and disability. She offers a raw and honest look at the realities of living with bipolar disorder, while also acknowledging the strength and resilience required to manage such a lifelong condition.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Naomi Jackson provides a raw and honest account of her experience with bipolar disorder.
- She highlights the intersections of race, gender, and disability in navigating mental illness.
- Jackson emphasizes the need for open conversations and destigmatizing mental health issues.
- Family history and heredity are concerns when managing a mental illness like bipolar disorder.
- Strong support systems and compassionate witnesses are crucial for those struggling with mental health challenges.
- Despite the challenges, Jackson has found stability and solace in her writing and creativity.
- Her story offers insights into the realities of living with a lifelong mental illness while maintaining hope and resilience.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “A friend of mine says the function of racism is to make people feel crazy. Listen, and so I think what I talk about in the essay is waking up in this hospital room on Valentine's Day and just being completely unmoored, just not having any sense of what happened to me, how I got there.“ by Naomi Jackson
- “I have been working six days a week. I know that just below these heights of creativity there is a winding staircase that leads to mania. Still, I write as if I may never write again. I want to get it all down in case my mind betrays me.“ by Naomi Jackson
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Episode Information
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5/10/23
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