You know I love advocating for accessibility and equity in mental healthcare, so I was especially excited to speak with Dr. Alison Baum.  She is a Family Physician living with Bipolar Disorder and has been brave enough to share her story for the first time here on this podcast.  She is living proof that you can live a healthy, fulfilling life while managing mental illness.  I am honored to share her story and amplify her voice.   In this episode we covered so much,  including the following: *************** - How did Dr. Baum realize she had Bipolar Disorder? - What is Bipolar Disorder and why is it confused with other diagnoses? - What are some of the triggers for BPD? - Are antidepressants used for BPD? - Why should medications be carefully monitored? - Why did Dr. Baum feel a sense of relief when she was finally diagnosed? - Why do people with mental health symptoms not seek / get help? - Did having a mental illness affect Dr. Baum's ability to work? - How does someone with concerns about mental health ask for help? - How did Dr. Baum's eating disorder coexist with her BPD? - Did therapy play a role in Dr. Baum's treatment? - How do lack of resources affect the ability to secure high quality care? - How did Dr. Baum transition to becoming a full-time coach? *************** Dr. Alison Baum is a fellowship trained Family Medicine Physician, and up until 2018 she was faculty at a Family Medicine residency in California. In 2017 she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  She then devoted considerable time and energy towards remaining well, working part time and learning about how to manage her mental health.  She realized that, in retrospect, there were many times in her training that her mental illness was apparent and was giving clues. She is sharing her story in hopes that other women can get the help they need.   Dr. Baum now lives overseas with her physician husband and children, and isn’t practicing medicine.  Instead, she is sharing her experience working from home as a professional mom and coaching women on improving their work-from-home lives. *************** You can find more from Dr. Baum at: Websites: www.alisonterese.com FB & IG:  @alison.t.baum *************** Thanks so much for listening! There's lots more on my website: www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com and.... If you love the music, check out: www.therealmichaelvm.com/music All my love & gratitude to: my guest: Dr.  Alison Baum, my inspiration: my patients, my idea guy: Edward, my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia, my tech & equipment guy: Pop, my angel: Susie, my music & sound guy: Mike VM, my mascots: Jules & P.S.,  my creative director: Emily, my love, Michael. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthday #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthwarrior #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthawarness #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalhealthweek #bipolar #bipolardisorder #bipolarismo #bipolarawareness #bipolar2 #bipolardisorderawareness  #bipolardepression #Bipolaridade #bipolarlife #bipolarquotes #bipolar1 #eatingdisorder #eatingdisorderrecovery #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderawareness #eatingdisordersrecovery #eatingdisorderwarrior #eatingdisorderecovery