Sherpas | Climbing the Mountain of Bi-Polar | Debbie Foster | TEDxCrestmoorParkWomen
77,841
Published 2017-11-28
Navigating depression, unable to access her creative mind leaves her feeling helpless as she travels through periods of devestating lifelessness and extreme euphoria.
Through her own life experience, she has discovered the power of what she calls "Sherpas" and in this talk she introduces us all to the amazing roles Sherpas can play for someone with a bi-polar diagnosis. Debbie Foster is charismatic, compassionate and creative and feels most alive surrounded by children.
Of all her jobs (and there have been many!) teaching preschool will always be her favorite because little people are authentic, hysterical and always in-the-moment.
Being diagnosed with bi-polar and adhd at age 29 changed the trajectory of Debbie’s life. Backwards she went…from a social butterfly to a caterpillar holed up in a cocoon.
14 years, 13 prescriptions, 5 shrinks, one divorce, thousands of hours on Netflix and 8 jobs later, Debbie has become an expert in “being bi-polar” and after successfully being off all medications for 5 months, she is reemerging from her cocoon.
An intuitive friend once told her that she wasn’t going through this for nothing.
Debbie wants to help others understand the beauty of a bi-polar brain, show others with brains like hers how they can support their own families and friends (its hardest on them!) and inspire others to come out of the closet. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
-
I'm also a bipolar teacher. I share my illness with everyone. I teach anatomy, and I'm upfront with my high schoolers. I tell them what it's like, and I think they've learned that mental illness isn't a character flaw. Sharing is difficult at first, but it's so liberating after you get used to it.
-
This WOMAN HAS SO MUCH SUPPORT !!! THIS IS NOT how most people experience mental health. If we all had this kind of support mental health wouldn't be as devastating. NOT sure how she acquired all of these 'Sherpas', most people run the other way of needy people. I ask for help but most people I know are ' fed up' with me. AS a TED TALK this is showing HER experience, yet it is FAR from achievable by most people with Bipolar.
-
I am a retired elementary teacher with bipolar 1 disorder. I enjoyed your talk. Well done. I also have sherpas. Never called them that before but they are angels on earth. Teaching with bipolar is a challenge but none of us needs to be humiliated because of this issue. Remember your moods and behaviour are the symptoms of your illness in the same way that throwing up is a symptom of flu. If employers have an issue with it get a new job because their prejudice is their problem. Do let them make it yours. I have been saying for years it is time for mental illness to come out of the attic. Forty percent of people will experience some form of mental illness in their lives. That means that EVERYONE either has a mental illness or they know someone who has. When a problem is this pervasive it is everyone’s problem.
-
This is the most profound video on bipolar I have seen, and has come into my life at just the right time. I have been tasked in life with being the Sherpa to a loved one who has bipolar. If "I" is replaced by "we", even illness becomes wellness.
-
I have a Bi-polar wife God it's hard for me, but I understand it's even harder for her
-
I have bipolar and this was the most relatable video I’ve ever seen!!!
-
Great talk for me to hear. I am a sherpa for a loved one and your talk helps me continue climbing the mountain of bipolar. Loved you saying "When we replace I with we illness becomes wellness." Wish everyone had a sherpa.
-
This was an excellent presentation. I watch videos on mental health bc I am looking for handholds as I climb this vertical wall. I always feel some sadness when I find a gem like this one bc I keep thinking of those who don’t struggle with mental issues who may not watch it. And yet that is precisely who needs to know about it. Mental illness is so isolating and we are labeled and blamed for our illness. I’ve had friends spit the label out the side of their mouth when they tell me about someone they know who’s been diagnosed as Bipolar. They say this to me. I’m bipolar! It shows how disdainful people feel about it. Even alcoholics get more compassion most times yet it is just as genetic. If you also come from a dysfunctional family then you’re really on your own. But thank you again for describing BP with such accuracy and insight.
-
Debbie, you have put a powerful,bright, sensitive face on an often misunderstood, dark diagnosis. YOU and your "sherpas" deserve a standing ovation and a long round of atta girls !!!
-
Thank you, we are close to an actual diagnosis for my 17-year-old daughter and as soon as possible, I am sharing this with her. This will be one of her first Sherpas. ❤️.
-
Thank God for someone who understands.
-
Well done Debbie, you are so brave. I have bipolar 2. I really struggle to “come out” and tell people about my illness. Especially at work, as in the past i had very negative experience and my manager used my illness against me, bullied me and also used bipolar as the reason i won’t be able to progress in the company into senior or managment (her excuse was i wouldn’t be able to handle the stress). After staying in hospial and doing all sorts of therapies i gathered my strength with the amazing help of a career coach sherpa and found a new job in management. I love to be stable with a bit of a high, as it gets my creative juices going:-) i love to paint, draw, do craft, write and just imagine different stories for books. I can not get to high into mani, as it always ends up in severe depression. I have had mixed episodes on and off in the past 4 years, some manic episodes but thank god no real full on depression. My biggest and most supportive sherpas are my husband, my children and my family overseas. I am blessed to have some amazing friend sherpas and the most amazing psychiatrist anyone could hope for. I’ve been seeing her for over 15 years and she has been my rock in all those years. Now i moved to australia from Europe about 20 years ago, when i was diagnosed with depression only. Bipolar has a lot of stigma, much more then depression or anxiety. Maybe because far less people have it, are properly diagnosed - if at all or maybe because of the picture some media, movies and so on paint of us. I truly wish you the strength of all the mountains on Earth and may you find an amazing psychiatrist that will guide you as a kind and understanding shepard. Stay strong and know you’re not alone, all over the world are your polar friends and shepards, Anna (not stephen, he’s my special shepard xo)
-
I'm so grateful for you, my first Sherpa, thank you so much. You've just made my life more bearable
-
Youre so so fortunate to have sherpas. I feel so alone most of the time.
-
You're not alone. I was self medicating myself with opiates for years without knowing bipolar was my root issue. It's an exhilarating freedom to be aware of it and how to treat it so I can fulfill my true purpose in life and stop letting down myself and those who love me the most.
-
I was recently diagnosed with BP II. These videos, along with medication from a new psychiatrist, are really helping me understand myself more and keep pushing.
-
Every description is like her reading my life, Recently Diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and it's so hard and confusing, crazy as most people will describe it. Thank you so much. It gives me hope that i can go through this.
-
I am a Sherpa, and I am a Psychology Student. Wish you good luck
-
Thank you so much for being open and transparent with your struggle. I have a family member recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and I greatly appreciate this video to help me better understand.
-
This woman is so valiant to tell us how it is!!
