Title: Manic Depressive (Bipolar) Disorder with Cole Fiers

Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes - “It’s not like you are just sad in just the general sense of being sad.  You just feel like you could be doing so much more or anything more for yourself then what you’re doing.  And then you get more mad at yourself for being stuck.” 27:34“It was hard for my whole family.” 37:40“If you were to put yourself inside of a drum, like a steel drum, and then sink it under water and tumble it and just spin it and you can feel the pressure of the water pushing you deeper and deeper and deeper, and you’re spinning… that’s what it felt like all day, every day, for months.” 49:55“The biggest step for me was connecting with a psychiatrist.” 55:36“If you have a severe mental health disorder and you need medication, being patient and willing to keep doing it and being consistent with it, is everything.” 58:38“I see other things I have in my life besides volleyball.” 1:01:33 Guest Bio - Cole Fiers is a beach volleyball player, world traveling surfer and amazing coach and mentor.  While attending Stanford University as a member of the Men’s Indoor Volleyball team, he had his first battle with manic depressive disorder and since then has learned to advocate and set an example for others to promote better mental health. Show Notes - 0:00 - WIMTS Podcast Intro0:15 - Introducing Cole Fiers0:43 - Welcome to Cole2:33 - Awareness for Mental Health Started at 18 Years Old4:39 - How Do You Foster Self Awareness?6:01 - Started Feeling Anxiety at 188:44 - Family Trauma12:14 - Starting College at Stanford16:26 - First Time in Therapy20:12 - Mom Found Tom Curuso & I Was Ready to Play Volleyball Again21:42 - Indoor Volleyball Wasn’t for Me Anymore23:39 - Student at Stanford25:13 - Winter 2015 Brought Ruminating Thoughts & Depression28:04 - Did You Think to Reach Out?29:13 - Improvement Suggestions to Mental Health Assistance32:32 - BB Commercial32:40 - Sports & Mental Health34:07 - Going Home Again & Building Confidence36:38 - Describe Being Home38:49 - “Junior” Year 2016 & Frat Life41:36 - Bipolar Episode 2 Weeks into Winter Quarter43:50 - More About the Manic Episode45:31 - Relating to People in a Manic State47:07 - This Depressive Period Lasted Months & Using Weed50:18 - Having Suicidal Thoughts & Communicating with Parents54:34 - Transformation After Diagnosis59:17 - Consequences from Taking Medications & Beach Volleyball1:01:24 - Seeing the Bigger Picture1:04:01 - One Piece of Advice1:05:55 - Where Can People Find You?1:07:05 - Thank You1:08:00 - WIMTS Podcast Closing Links & Where to Find Cole - IG - @cole_fiers