JJ welcomes back Michelle Reittinger, author and host of The Upside of Bipolar, for a bold, hope-filled conversation that challenges common cultural narratives around bipolar disorder. Together, they unpack "myths" that can keep people stuck in fear and identity-based labels—and invite listeners into curiosity, root-cause investigation, and a more empowering view of symptoms, healing, and personal responsibility.

In This Episode, We Cover

· Michelle's story: diagnosed in 1998, years of intensive psychiatric treatment, polypharmacy, and a breaking point that became a turning point

· Why a diagnosis can feel like an "answer," but often doesn't explain why symptoms started

· The difference between a "cluster of symptoms" and an identified disease mechanism

· Why curiosity (vs. shame) changes everything—especially with intense symptoms like rage, anxiety, and dissociation

· The "detective" approach: identifying triggers, patterns, and underlying contributors

· The role of foundational health (nutrients, sleep, nervous system regulation) in emotional resilience and symptom reduction

· Why suppressed emotions can show up as anxiety, depression, physical pain, or crisis states

· How identity, victimhood, and relationship dynamics can unconsciously reinforce staying stuck

· A grounded reminder: do not abruptly stop medications—tapering/changes should be done slowly and safely with qualified support

Notable Takeaways

· Labels can reduce curiosity—and curiosity is often the doorway to change.

· "Symptoms" are information; the goal is to explore what they're pointing to.

· The most empowering question isn't "What's wrong with me?" but "What happened—and what is my system asking for now?"

· Healing can have a social cost: if your "sick role" has been rewarded with attention, protection, or lowered expectations, getting better can feel threatening (even subconsciously).

Resources Mentioned

· Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker

· The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

· Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno

Connect with Michelle

· Website: theupsideofbipolar.com

· Free resource: Mood Cycle Survival Guide (available on her site)

· Podcast + book links are also on her website.

What if the deepest wound you carry isn't about what happened to you—but about whether you ever felt truly held by life itself?

In this powerful and intimate conversation, JJ is joined by a longtime soul sister, healer, and registered nurse who shares a deeply transformative experience that healed a lifelong sense of abandonment—not just from people, but from God, Source, and existence itself.

After more than 25 years of personal growth, spiritual practice, and emotional work, she realized there was still an existential fracture beneath it all: a quiet belief that life was not fully safe, that love could be given endlessly but not fully received, and that stepping into her full calling might come at a devastating cost.

What unfolded during a sacred, carefully held journey became a profound reclamation of safety, trust, and belonging—at the nervous-system and soul level.

This episode is not about escapism or quick fixes. It's about:

· How early experiences can fracture our sense of safety with life itself

· Why control often masks a fear of annihilation or abandonment

· What true surrender actually feels like in the body

· Healing the relationship with Source beyond religion or belief systems

· Learning to receive love after a lifetime of giving

· Releasing the fear that being fully seen could destroy you

· Embodiment, integration, and lasting nervous-system change

JJ also speaks to the importance of integrity, preparation, emotional readiness, and sacred containment—emphasizing that this kind of work is not for everyone, not always, and never casual.

At its core, this is a conversation about remembering who you are, restoring trust in life, and discovering that you were never alone—not for a single breath.

If you've ever felt:

· Like you don't fully belong here

· Afraid to take up space or be fully visible

· Deeply loving but unable to receive

· Spiritually devoted yet quietly disconnected

· Called to something more but scared of the cost

This episode may speak directly to your heart.

This is not an escape from life.
It's an invitation into the truth of who you really are.

http://Karinrose.love

In this solo episode, JJ explores a pattern she sees repeatedly in women who are deeply caring, self-aware, and ready for healing—yet hesitate when it's time to invest in themselves.

Drawing from real conversations with women who are caregivers, over-givers, people-pleasers, and survivors of illness, JJ unpacks the deeper truth beneath statements like "I can't afford it." This episode isn't about money—it's about self-worth, nervous system safety, and the beliefs that quietly keep women putting themselves last.

Through the energetic lens of the Year of the Snake and the approaching Fire Horse, JJ explains how awareness alone isn't enough. Healing often requires an embodied choice—a stretch that tells your nervous system, I am worth being supported.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why women so often deprioritize their own healing and well-being

• How abandonment wounds, caregiving roles, and people-pleasing show up around money

• What not investing in yourself communicates to your body and subconscious

• Why aligned investment can be a powerful act of re-patterning and self-trust

• How choosing yourself builds confidence, self-love, and emotional resilience

This episode is an invitation to value yourself differently in 2026—not by doing more, but by believing you're worthy of support, healing, and expansion.

✨ If you've been feeling the call to invest in yourself but something keeps stopping you, this conversation may help you understand why—and what's possible on the other side of that choice.

Ready to change this pattern? let's chat. http://jjflizanes.com/apply