Bluntly Bipolar
Bluntly Bipolar is a personal podcast hosted by Dennis Heil about living with Type 2 Bipolar Disorder, high-functioning autism, and severe depression. Dennis shares hard-won lessons from more than 30 years of experience, including suicide attempts, psychotic episodes, and his ongoing recovery since being diagnosed in 2009. The show mixes blunt honesty with humor as he talks about finding peace and happiness while managing mental illness. He is not a mental health professional and presents the podcast as one patient's perspective, not a substitute for treatment.
Episodes
On Anger: Cornell U, Consent, and Not All Men
The Cornell 7 and sexual assault of Jane Doe are currently in the news. In this episode, I use this situation to shine a lot on elements of toxic masculinity, rape culture, and intervention. The actions of those seven men and lack of action from the other 50 in the group chat is a fine example of why "not all men" is wrong. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenBrock Turn
Cynicism: Laziness or Enlightenment?
As I was deeply unstable with my Type 2 Bipolar Disorder, deep in depression, I fell into a trap of incorrect perceptions which screwed up my interpretation of the world. I saw the awful in everything because that's what I most often looked for. It caused me to wonder is if my cynicism and eternal pessimism were real, or just laziness on my part. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipol
Lindsay Clancy: A Strong Opinion, Loosely Held in Nonjudgment
The Lindsay Clancy case has created a lot of strong emotions, and rightly so, because three children were murdered. However, sometimes emotions are not signaling correct information to us. Not only that, but we may not necessarily understand what information we don't have. In this episode, I explore how this is an ideal scenario for practicing Stoic nonjudgment to improve your own peace of mind an
Five Reasons to Not Kill Yourself This Suicide Prevention Month
It's that time of year again! A holly, jolly Suicide Prevention Month. In this episode, I'm going to give you five reasons to not kill yourself this Suicide Prevention Month!Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenSuicide and Crisis Hotlines | WikipediaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluntlybipolarBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bluntlybipolar.bsky.socialEmail: bluntlybip
Are You A Bipolar Artist Afraid of Losing Your Spark?
There's a common fear in mental health communities that treatment will take away your spark. Yes, that can happen. However, what isn't talked about nearly as much are the ways in which treatment can benefit your art. In this episode, I discuss the benefits and affects treatment had on my writing. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blunt
Vote: It's Literally A Matter of Life and Death
As we approach this mid-term season, I would like to make a stark statement - vote, because it's a matter of life and death. The fact of the matter is that most money that goes into mental health care comes from the government and charity. I was one such recipient. I would likely be dead today without a block grant from the government that paid for my initial diagnosis and treatment. In this episo
Are You Afraid of Bipolar Disorder?
Are you afraid of Bipolar Disorder? That's understandable. When you're first diagnosed, you're stepping into a world that's large and hard to understand. However, that fear gets smaller as you start learning how to captain your ship. Let me walk you through some of my strategies for doing exactly that. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@
Unlocking the Power of Optimism, Gratitude, and Mindfulness
"Joy is an act of resistance." Toi DerricotteThis phrase is largely used in social justice circles when it comes to dealing with oppressive forces, because an oppressive force wants you to be scared and broken down. Joy is a middle finger in the face of the oppressor. I identify with this, because my bipolar disorder has been trying to kill me for over 30 years now. My mental illness has oppressed
Lindsay Clancy: Monster or Victim?
The Lindsay Clancy trial currently has social media in a grip. What's interesting about all of the discussion surrounding Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis is one understated detail. Lindsay Clancy had an undiagnosed bipolar disorder as far as back as 2020, three years before she killed her three children. In this episode, I discuss the medical malpractice lawsuit that Clancy filed ag
The Tragedy of Elisa Lam
Do you remember Elisa Lam? Elisa went missing and was discovered in a cistern on top of a hotel back in 2013. Her disappearance made the rounds through mystery and true crime circles because of how strange it was. There was a video from an elevator that showed her acting strangely, fearfully, as though she were being followed by someone. Many people took that to mean that she was being stalked by
What Voice Memo Guy Can Teach Us About Boundaries
Did you hear about Voice Memo Guy? Essentially, he went on one date with a woman and expressed that early physical intimacy was important to him. She said she wasn't sure if that's what she wanted. Then, she invited him to her house for a second date. His response was to send a voice memo expressing that he didn't want to do that or continue on if it wasn't going to lead to sex. That woman's frien
5 Comforting Lies They Tell The Mentally Ill
We mentally ill people are told a lot of comforting lies. I don't think it's out of maliciousness. I think that a lot of people just don't know anything better to say. I used to be a cynical and bitter person until I had ran my old mental health blog years ago. I would get message after message from the loved ones of the mentally ill, trying to figure out how to balance compassion with boundaries,
An Open Letter to Suicide Loss Survivors
Suicide and the loss surrounding it is a far too common subject in the world of mental health. In this episode, I share the things I've learned about navigating suicide loss from my time in bereavement groups and my own acceptance of my family members, friends, and associates who have completed suicide. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenComplicated Grief | Fact Sheet
On Anger: Rebuilding with Intention, Brick by Brick
In the previous episode, I discussed the simple process I used to take myself apart and better understand why I am who I am. In this episode, I describe how I took those bricks and put them back together with intention. The power of deconstruction is that you now have raw material to rebuild with. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blunt
5 Reasons To Hope This Fourth of July (Bonus)
America is not in a great place this 4th of July. It's hard to feel positive about this country with the current administration and environment that created it. In this bonus episode, I would like to share with you five reasons I am relentlessly optimistic about America's future. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenLetter from Birmingha
On Anger: Taking Yourself Apart, Brick by Brick
Deconstruction is a process of taking yourself apart to understand the "why" behind who you are. In this episode, I walk you through the simple process I used and still use to dismantle my perceptions, understand where my emotions are coming from, and separate mental illness from rational thinking. It's simple, but it's not easy. The main benefit is that it can help you identify unwellness before
On Anger: Deconstructing the "Man" in Straight White Man
Deconstruction became an important part of defusing anger that fueled my depression and Bipolar Disorder, complicated by the autism. I had to identify the biases and perspectives I had picked up from society and the people around me to find a way to let them go. In this episode, I deconstruct the "man" in the label of "straight white man" as a working class guy from a blue collar background.Don't
On Anger: Deconstructing the "White" in Straight White Man
Identity is a fascinating thing. As a straight white man that grew up in a heavily conservative area, there's been a lot of social programming I was subjected to by society. Unwinding that, and the way it is weaponized against other people became an important part of creating peace with myself. In this episode, I unwrap myself regarding my whiteness.Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybi
On Anger: Deconstructing the "Straight" in Straight White Man
Deconstruction became an important part of defusing anger that fueled my depression and Bipolar Disorder, complicated by the autism. I had to identify the biases and perspectives I had picked up from society and the people around me to find a way to let them go. In this episode, I deconstruct the "straight" in the label of "straight white male" as a working class guy from a blue collar background.
On Anger: What is Deconstruction?
What is deconstruction? Well, it is the act of taking something apart to understand why it is the way it is, and why it functions the way it does. Deconstruction was an important part of my mental health journey. It helped me identify where a lot of my anger and depression was coming from. Understanding myself also smoothed out my Bipolar unwellness, because I was no longer dumping gasoline on tho
On Anger: 5 Things I Wish I Knew As A 13 Year Old Straight White Boy
Life is a complicated puzzle where many lessons have to be learned the hard way. However, knowing these five things when I was 13 years old, as a straight white boy, might have made that journey a whole lot easier. These are things that either did disrupt me, or would have disrupted me if I didn't know any better.Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenTikTok: https://www.t
On Anger: Where Does A Straight White Man Belong?
I have come to believe that many of the messages of rugged independence aimed at white Americans are a tactic to fracture our communities. Isolation and alienation create anger, which helps to foster resentment that can be weaponized by malicious people. That, in turn, all fed into my own severe depression, Bipolar instability, and alienation due to my autism.Don't forget to subscribe! https://www
50 Truths They Tried to Erase by Freddie E. Taylor (Bonus Book Review)
In this episode, I contemplate and review the book 50 Truths They Tried to Erase - Black Power, Culture, & Resistance Uncovered by Freddie E. Taylor. I originally bought this book due to my interest in propaganda and influence. What I found within its pages is an excellent introduction to the many ways in which our perceptions and attitudes are cultivated towards black Americans. This book is
On Anger: The Straight White Male, Culture, and White Pride
I was a straight angry white man who took great offense to the idea that I shouldn't take pride in who I am, where I come from, and what I've accomplished. After all, why is it solely the domain of women and people of color? Well, let me share with you what I was getting wrong...Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listenBrian Kilmeade says to kill homeless mentally ill who re
On Anger: You Don't Ask a Fish How to Catch Fish
The title is a joke told by Patrice O'Neal about why it's not the right move to listen to women. This method of thinking has long been a part of red pill and male spaces, and it helps to drive male loneliness, disconnection, depression, and anger. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com/listen[01:00] BeginningPatrice O'Neal on "Fishing"TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluntlybipol
Bonus: "Inside the Manosphere": Trading Integrity for Magic Beans
The documentary "Inside the Manosphere" explores that world of influencers, how they think, and their attitudes and opinions. As a former unethical marketer, I wanted to share some commentary on what I thought about this documentary as it pertains to anger, mental health, and how it is affecting men's mental health. This is a bonus episode. Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybipolar.com
On Anger: Are Men Being Scammed by the Manosphere?
One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that my anger made me easy to control. Unlearning that behavior became a monumental task because anger was a constant symptom of depression, Bipolar Disorder, and my frustrations with autism.In this episode, I explore how the manosphere uses masculine anger as a tool of manipulation, not to help you level up, but to keep you coming back for more.Don't
On Anger: You're Not Protecting Who You Think You Are
Are you a real man? The kind of man who would do anything for his family? The kind of man who would go to jail for his family? What if I told you that you aren't protecting who you think you are by being that kind of man?Anger played a significant role in how my mental illness manifested and perpetuated itself. Even though I relied on spite and anger to survive some hard moments in my life with su
On Anger: The Myth of Anger as Strength
Anger played a significant role in how my mental illness manifested and perpetuated itself. Even though I relied on spite and anger to survive some hard moments in my life with suicidality and hopelessness, I eventually had to create peace with it to facilitate my healing and recovery.In this mini-series prefixed "On Anger," I am dissecting the way that my anger and depression has been weaponized.
Open Letter: To the People Who Reject Their Bipolar Diagnosis
Diagnosis for a mental illness doesn't typically come at a fantastic time in life. Who is having a good time and thinks, "You know what? I'm going to go be screened for severe mental illness!" No, it's usually when a person is unstable, at rock bottom, or their life is on-fire. In this episode, this open letter is meant to be shared with mentally ill people who reject their diagnosis by addressing
Who Am I? The Authentic Self vs. Mental Illness
There's a difficult struggle that we mentally ill people wrestle with. That is, how do you separate your authentic self from your mental illness? As someone with Bipolar Disorder, autism, and severe depression, it took me years to start seeing my authentic self in the shadows of the wreckage of my brain. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the approach I took to better understand what w
How to Forgive Yourself When You Have a Mental Illness
Guilt is a heavy load to carry for the mentally healthy. When you have a mental illness, that loads gets even heavier. Mental illness causes us to do things outside of our true character and nature. Sometimes, those things are terrible destructive, painful, or traumatic. Still, to carry on through life, we need to find a way to come to terms with that. In this episode, I share how I approach forgi
Making Apologies, Brutal Honesty, and a Forklift
An ability to make a good apology is a big part of building healthy relationships. As someone with Bipolar Disorder, I've had to make several in my life because of wrong actions, both well and when I was out of my mind. Furthermore, I discuss the importance of tact in communication, and trying to rebuild relationships with a later diagnosis in life.Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.bluntlybip
Finding Forgiveness for the Unforgiveable
Forgiveness is a far more complicated word than it appears to be. It covers so much territory, from forgiving some mundane wrong done against you to the process of coming to terms with traumatic experiences. That makes it quite difficult for someone trying to work through their anger to acceptance so they can heal.In this episode, I discuss how I approach this difficult matter in two situations. T
12 Things to Know About Psych Medication
Psych medication is a difficult subject for we mentally ill people. As a mental patient with a microphone, it's not my place to give recommendations on treatment or tell anyone what to do with their meds. However, there is a lot of connected information about treatment that I've learned over my past 16 years in treatment. That is what I am sharing with you here...Don't forget to subscribe! https:/
An Open Letter to the Hopeless
Have you ever been hopeless? Truly hopeless? The kind of hopeless where it feels like you're drowning in the darkness of a tomb buried six feet beneath the Marianas Trench? The kind of hopelessness that makes you want to end yourself when you see other suicide prevention efforts? I have, more than a few times because of my trauma, Bipolar Disorder, and severe depression. In this open letter, I hop
Are You a Good Person?
Are you a good person? I'm not, and I could never see myself as being one. I'd look at people I viewed as good people, like Mr. Rogers and Steve Irwin, and just know my mind is too dark to ever be that light. Plus, due to my autism, I am what's called a low-empathy person, so a lot of advice about goodness and being a better person meant little to me. Like, the whole, "put yourself in their shoes!
The Pursuit of Peace
I know from personal experience that peace is the fertile soil in which happiness grows. To grow happiness, we need to create more peace within ourselves. In this episode, I am sharing with you these five tips that I wish I would have known on my first day of therapy to work on my own peace.1. Get sober.I believe that there are few things more important for mental wellness and stability than getti
The Secret to Happiness
I've worked in digital marketing as a copywriter for over 18 years now, the first five of which I did a lot of shady and unethical work because of my mental state and low empathy. In the course of that work, I regularly helped questionable people sell happiness to unhappy people. The commercialization and commodification of happiness affects the way we perceive recovery from depression, trauma, an
Should I Be Open About My Mental Illness?
Should I be open about my mental illness? It's a more complicated question than you may realize, filled with hidden pitfalls and considerations you may not have made.Dennis Heil speaks bluntly about his choice to be open about his mental health journey, starting with his first active suicide attempt to the Bipolar depressive psychotic break that forced him to acknowledge how bad his mental health
Bluntly Bipolar Trailer
Hey. What's up, y'all? My name is Dennis Heil, and I am diagnosed with Type 2 Bipolar Disorder with severe depression, and High-Functioning Autism. I've been living with Bipolar Disorder for over 30 years, fifteen of which I spent undiagnosed. In 2009, I experienced a depressive psychotic break that led to my diagnosis of Type 2 Bipolar Disorder. I would be diagnosed with autism a few years later.
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