I Married Bipolar

Advocates: Fighting for the Ones We Love Through Bipolar

Do you wish you had someone to understand what you're going through or have been through?*This is a re-release of an episodeIf no one’s told you this lately: you are your loved one’s best shot at survival — and maybe yours, too. In this episode of I Married Bipolar, I talk about what it really means to advocate for someone with bipolar disorder, especially when no one else seems to listen. I’ll take you inside the ER, inside my grief, and inside the moments when I had to go to war for the people I love — even when it wasn’t pretty. This episode is part personal testimony, part training ground for anyone who’s ever felt helpless, overwhelmed, or silenced by the system.Episode SummaryThis episode begins with the loss of my mother, Paula Jean Leffingwell, who lived with bipolar disorder. Her passing became a mirror — showing me all the ways I’ve learned to fight for people who can’t always fight for themselves. I share how growing up with her shaped the way I advocate for my husband, for myself, and for this community. You’ll hear what happens when you don’t back down — with psychiatrists, with hospitals, and with your own boundaries. We explore what I call protective love, the evolved version of “tough love” that’s not about punishment — it’s about survival. If you’ve ever had to be the one making the impossible decisions… this episode is your validation and your training manual.🔑 Key Takeaways (SEO-Optimized)What it really means to be an advocate for a loved one with bipolar disorderHow to set medical boundaries in a bipolar relationshipWhat to do when doctors won’t listen about your bipolar spouse’s symptomsThe difference between tough love and protective loveHow to navigate grief and trauma while still being the caregiverConnect with TempleTempleleffingwell@gmail.comInstagramFacebookAmazon / Kindle"Whoops, I Married Bipolar: An Inside Look at A Real Relationship with Mental Illness" Book / AudioBookLinksHeart Healers Brain GangMajor TransformationHealing Foundation90 Minute One on One Post Production for I Married Bipolar is done by:OceanTreeCreative@gmail.com

Who Cares About the Care Team? Advocating When No One Listens

Do you wish you had someone to understand what you're going through or have been through?*This is a re-release of an episode.If you’ve ever walked into a psychiatrist’s office with your bipolar partner, watched them say “everything’s fine,” and wanted to scream — this episode is for you. I’ve been there too many times, where the truth of what’s happening at home never makes it to the treatment team. In this episode, we unpack the critical (and broken) connection between the care team and the actual, lived reality of being a partner to someone with bipolar disorder.Episode SummaryI take you into one of the most frustrating parts of navigating bipolar in a relationship: trying to communicate with doctors who only hear what they want to hear. We talk about what happens when the person you love masks their symptoms in front of clinicians, why so many providers dismiss the partner’s voice, and how a lack of release of information (ROI) can put everyone at risk. We also dig into the emotional toll this takes — the heartbreak of being dismissed, the guilt of reporting symptoms, and the grief of holding it all together without support. This conversation is raw, real, and full of shared stories from people like you.If you’ve ever felt like the crazy one in the room while trying to protect your family, this is your space to feel seen — and get stronger.Key Takeaways (SEO-Optimized)Why your bipolar partner’s psychiatrist may never hear the truthHow to navigate the healthcare system when bipolar symptoms are being maskedThe importance of a release of information (ROI) for bipolar care planningHow to advocate for your loved one without being shut out by doctorsReal stories from partners who felt gaslit by the mental health systemConnect with TempleTempleleffingwell@gmail.comInstagramFacebookAmazon / Kindle"Whoops, I Married Bipolar: An Inside Look at A Real Relationship with Mental Illness" Book / AudioBookLinksHeart Healers Brain GangMajor TransformationHealing Foundation90 Minute One on One Post Production for I Married Bipolar is done by:OceanTreeCreative@gmail.com

What Is Safety? How I Set Boundaries with My Bipolar Spouse

Do you wish you had someone to understand what you're going through or have been through?*This is a re-release of an episodeLet’s talk about safety — real, emotional, everyday safety when you're married to someone with bipolar disorder. I know what it’s like to live in a home where you’re constantly checking for signs, trying to keep the peace, and wondering if your boundaries will ever be respected. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned over the years about defining safety for yourself, building recovery plans that actually work, and finding ways to care for your partner without losing yourself.Episode SummaryI open up about the work Chris and I have done — and continue to do — to navigate his ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder and psychosis. From setting non-negotiable boundaries (like “no mania in the house”) to writing out emotional recovery lists and trigger inventories, this episode is packed with real strategies we've used to rebuild connection and trust. I also talk with a friend about what it feels like to pour yourself into someone who isn’t meeting you halfway, and the pain — and power — in asking for more.If you're in a relationship impacted by bipolar disorder, or you’ve ever asked, What does safety look like for me? — this one is for you.Key Takeaways (SEO-Optimized)What emotional safety in a bipolar marriage really looks likeHow to create and use a bipolar recovery checklist with your partnerThe power of a personalized triggers list in mental health relationshipsHow to support your partner with bipolar disorder without enabling maniaTools for navigating Christian marriage and mental illness with compassionConnect with TempleTempleleffingwell@gmail.comInstagramFacebookAmazon / Kindle"Whoops, I Married Bipolar: An Inside Look at A Real Relationship with Mental Illness" Book / AudioBookLinksHeart Healers Brain GangMajor TransformationHealing Foundation90 Minute One on One Post Production for I Married Bipolar is done by:OceanTreeCreative@gmail.com

Falling in Love with Bipolar: The Story Begins

Do you wish you had someone to understand what you're going through or have been through?When you fall in love with someone, you're never thinking about mental illness. You're drawn in by energy, charm, chemistry — and in my case, all of that came with a hidden battle: bipolar disorder. This is my deeply personal journey of being married to someone with undiagnosed bipolar — and how it changed everything. If you're navigating mental illness in your marriage or loving someone with a diagnosis, this podcast is your space to feel seen, understood, and supported.On this podcast I share the whirlwind beginning of my relationship with my husband — how his magnetic energy and intense focus made me feel alive and unstoppable. But beneath the charm was a mental health struggle that would dramatically reshape our marriage. This trailer sets the stage for I Married Bipolar, a podcast told from the perspective of the partner — raw, real, and rooted in love and resilience. I also speak to the community that’s grown around my story, and my mission to make sure no one feels alone with bipolar again. Key Takeaways of this PodcastThe emotional journey of loving someone with undiagnosed bipolar disorder in a marriageHow intense connection can mask early warning signs of mental health challenges in relationshipsThe lived experience of a spouse navigating bipolar disorder from a faith-informed lensThe trauma, abandonment fears, and rebuilding that come with a bipolar diagnosis in long-term relationshipsThe power of community in supporting partners of those with bipolar disorderConnect with TempleTempleleffingwell@gmail.comInstagramFacebookAmazon / Kindle"Whoops, I Married Bipolar: An Inside Look at A Real Relationship with Mental Illness" Book / AudioBookLinksHeart Healers Brain GangMajor TransformationHealing Foundation90 Minute One on One Post Production for I Married Bipolar is done by:OceanTreeCreative@gmail.com