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What if the mental health diagnosis you've been carrying isn't actually the answer you thought it was? What if the symptoms you've been told to manage for life could actually be healed at the root?

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Michelle Rittenburg, number one bestselling author of The Upside of Bipolar and founder of Upsiders Tribe, to explore the complex intersection of trauma and mental health symptoms.

Michelle shares her raw journey from a narcissistic abusive first marriage that left her with unprocessed trauma she carried for 30 years. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 24 and told she had a permanent chemical imbalance requiring lifelong medication, Michelle spent over a decade on seven different psychiatric drugs, experienced multiple hospitalizations, and survived suicide attempts. She was told recovery wasn't possible.

But Michelle refused to accept that narrative.

In this episode, we dive deep into uncomfortable territory:

The moment Michelle realized traditional treatment wasn't working and why the "chemical imbalance" theory she'd built her life around wasn't supported by science

How unprocessed trauma from narcissistic abuse manifested as severe mood swings, depression, and what looked like mental illness

Why psychiatric diagnoses describe symptoms but don't identify underlying causes, and how this keeps people trapped in victimhood

Michelle's intense six-week EMDR therapy experience processing 30 years of repressed trauma, including her "day of rage" that signaled breakthrough

The difference between managing symptoms and actually healing at the root

Why we must learn to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of pathologizing or avoiding them

How choosing your hard, doing the work, and looking at symptoms with curiosity instead of judgment creates true freedom

The critical role of community and tribe in the healing journey

This conversation will challenge everything you've been told about mental health, permanent diagnoses, and what's actually possible when you're willing to do the uncomfortable work of healing.

If you've been labeled, diagnosed, or told you're broken beyond repair, this episode is for you. Whether you're dealing with the aftermath of narcissistic abuse, struggling with mental health symptoms, or both, Michelle's message is clear: healing is possible, and you don't have to be a victim to your symptoms for the rest of your life.

Ready to do your own recovery work? Visit ThePassageToPeace.com to explore my coaching programs, P.E.A.C.E. Pockets Survival Sessions, and one-on-one coaching.

LINKS To Find Michelle:

Website: www.theupsideofbipolar.com

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theupsideofbipolar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar

Podcast: The Upside of Bipolar: Conversations on the Road to Wellness

Book: The Upside

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