This episode revisits the earnest conversation with the author of Teetering on a Tightrope, Steven Wilson, and his lifelong journey with bipolar disorder. Brad and Lesley explore the critical role of supporters in the lives of those battling mental health issues, emphasizing the delicate balance between caring and enabling. Listen as they share actionable insights for listeners to become more informed and empathetic advocates in their communities.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How laughter can have an impact on our income. 
• The limits of your capacity to help someone with mental health disorder. 
• The significance of seeking professional advice when necessary.
• Advocating for mental health awareness and support in your community.
• Why empathy is crucial for those struggling with mental health issues.

Episode References/Links:

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• Glossary: Equivalized Income
• Impact of Social Relationships on Income–Laughter Relationships Among Older People
• Agency Mini 10
• OPC Summer Camp
• OPC Reformer Accountability Challenge
• Spy Corrector ControlLogix discount
• The Barrels Deck
• Cambodia Early Bird
• Call Your Congressperson - 202-224-3121
• NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness
• Teetering on a Tightrope by Steven Wilson

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Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
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• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

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Episode Transcript:

Brad Crowell 0:00  

We could start getting some things done if we as a community, who maybe we are suffering ourselves, or maybe we know someone who is suffering, but the only reason the only way that change will happen in the mental health in our country, in our communities is if we become active in voicing our desire for change for the need for support in this area is so important.

Lesley Logan 0:30  

Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.

Brad Crowell 1:08  

Hey everyone, Brad here today. Today we're gonna talk about depression, suicide and mental health. And if that's triggering for you, feel free to skip this episode. If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, or are in a mental crisis you can call 988 in the US for the suicide and crisis hotline. And there are there are definitely hotlines in every country around the world I'm sure so take a quick look online. Anyway, onto the episode.

Lesley Logan 1:50  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the earnest convo I had with Steve Wilson in our last episode, if you haven't yet, listened to the interview, feel free to pause this now, go back and listen to that one and then come back and join us. You might be wondering what the point of this interview is, if you listen to that one, and the whole thing is is like my frickin goodness, we don't talk about mental health enough, enough. And either in your journey, you might personally have some issues with your mental health. Whether it is something that is something that you need to medicate or it's just something of different therapy around or someone in your life is and it can be fucking difficult when someone in your life is going through something you can't fix. And so I really wanted to have this earnest conversation. But before we get into that, today is February 8th 2024. And it's a Laugh and Get Rich Day and you know what? It's a day to laugh and to enjoy the many benefits that laughter brings. The biggest benefit of laughter is it improves our health. Laughing can elevate our mood, lower stress and blood pressure, pressure and strengthen the immune system. Pause. I'm gonna just tell you when I grew up, my parents used to tickle us and go laughter brings healing to the bone. 

Brad Crowell 2:59  

It's the best medicine. 

Lesley Logan 3:00  

Laughter is the best medicine and like we just would laugh, laugh laugh right before bed, which makes zero sense because we couldn't fall asleep afterwards. 

Brad Crowell 3:07  

You get fired up, yeah. 

Lesley Logan 3:07  

But anyway, that's fine. Back to this script of what this day is about. In this way, laughter makes us rich because health is wealth after all. But laughter can also contribute to our financial gains by enriching your professional lives. Those who laugh often tend to be happier. Hello? Happy workers are more productive and are liked by co-workers.

Brad Crowell 3:27  

So okay, so I looked into this because I was like, laugh and get rich Come on, are you for real? 

Lesley Logan 3:33  

That Think and Grow Rich is that but like Laugh and Get Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Brad Crowell 3:38  

I was a bit skeptical to say the least. So can laughter actually have an impact on our income? Turns out there is an NIH or a National Institute of Health study that looked into this exact thing. And the results revealed a significant relationship between equivalent income and the frequency of laughter, social relationships and family structures were also associated with the frequency of laughter. So surprise, laughter can actually have an impact on your income and your relationships with other people. So, how about that?

Lesley Logan 4:11  

(Inaudible) next line? 

Brad Crowell 4:11  

Laugh it up fuzzball.

Lesley Logan 4:14  

That's a Star Wars reference, by the way. Katie Donnelly, got it. And Rachel Piper and maybe if there's other Star Wars people go for it, let me know. All right, let's go. So February 11th, is when we actually start Agency Mini Number 10.

Brad Crowell 4:31  

Number ten. 

Lesley Logan 4:32  

So, that's just in three days you can go to OPC, no, that's not it.

Brad Crowell 4:35  

Nope. You can go to profitablepilates.com/mini 

Lesley Logan 4:39  

Wow, I've never done that profitablepilates (laughs) that's how rich I am, profitablepilates.com/mini. Just sign up because we have yet to pick an Agency Mini Number 11 state and that's not a threat. It's just reality. We are really, really trying to get down to one time a year with this, and we don't know if it's gonna be this year, but it could be. So you want to sign up? Because that's might could be the last time we don't know. 

Brad Crowell 5:07  

Yeah, so we're gonna be helping fitness business owners just like you figure out their messaging, clarify their purpose and how to create a pitch that isn't salesy and feels natural to you, in a week of getting to know Lesley and I and our coaching style, and then afterwards, you can join us in the Agency program. 

Lesley Logan 5:25  

And or just get every question you've ever had answered, like you think you want to start a membership, we'll tell you pros and cons. And we'll tell you if you're ready. And if you are ready, we'll tell you how to keep going. And if you're not, we'll tell you how to get ready. Like, we're not we're not here to shoot anyone's dreams down. We're here to actually make it possible. And we don't want to waste your time doing it. Okay, now OPC. We have summer camp coming up this summer, and we're letting you know that it's coming up, because it's gonna be amazing. And usually throughout the year, we do little workshops. We're not doing that anymore. We're doing a summer camp instead. So you don't want to miss it because it's going to be amazing. And you're going to want to go to opc.me/workshops to get on the waitlist way to go, babe. Added that right in right there live opc.me/workshops that's plural. Okay. Then there's an OPC reformer challenge going on right now.

Brad Crowell 6:19  

Actually it just wrapped.

Lesley Logan 6:20  

Just wrapped. But you know what, it didn't wrap for you. Because you can, this is why we're amazing, you can actually sign up for it right now because it starts when you want to start it.

Brad Crowell 6:28  

You sure can. 

Lesley Logan 6:28  

That's opc.me/challenge. And if you're like, Y'all, I want an accountability challenge. But I don't have reformer. Well keep listening, because in March, we will have a mat version for you. So it's really, really amazing. You can start that anytime if you're like, ah, this week's not great, LL, I'm going to start next week, fine. Write down opc.me/challenge and then sign up next week. Running down this list here. I already mentioned the March Madness Mat Challenge because it's coming up in March, so you know stay tuned. The presale for the barrels flashcard deck. Here's what I can tell you right now because I just placed the order. The spine corrector is finally available from ControlLogix. And if you're like what? Yes, it is. Do you want my discount link? Yes, you do. We'll put it in the show notes, but also 

Brad Crowell 6:31  

Go to opc.me/perks 

Lesley Logan 6:54  

Perks. And if you're like, they want me to call them LL. Well guess what reach out to us. We got an email of the salesperson who will hook you up with my discount link, but you have to email me for that email. So you want to, for the Barrels Deck, the best price is always a presale price. Why? Because we make you wait several months to get them. So your payment for waiting and being patient is 30% off. And the only way to get that is to be on the waitlist for the flashcard which is opc.me/flashcardwaitlist. Do you see how the waitlists are where the epic should happen? Because that's where it happens. 

Brad Crowell 7:49  

That's where it happens. 

Lesley Logan 7:50  

That's where it happens. Amazon podcasts, obviously, so opc.me/flashcardwaitlist, I'm gonna talk over the dog.

Brad Crowell 7:58  

I couldn't help myself. Every time you touch me it's like static electricity snap on my earballs. 

Lesley Logan 8:03  

For sure. Everyone who's watching on YouTube is watching us like this weird thing with our heads. It's I'm being shocked in my earballs. Okay, so last but not least, the Cambodia early bird has closed. And oh my God, you guys 

Brad Crowell 8:19  

There may still be a few spots left. 

Lesley Logan 8:21  

We don't know because we're recording this in the future in the past for the future. 

Brad Crowell 8:26  

In the past for the future. 

Lesley Logan 8:27  

But if you go to lesleylogan.co/retreat plural or singular? 

Brad Crowell 8:34  

Singular. 

Lesley Logan 8:34  

Singular. You can sign up and see if there and if it says sold out. Well. 

Brad Crowell 8:40  

Lo siento. 

Lesley Logan 8:41  

Yeah, lo siento. I'm sorry. Flash not get on the waitlist.

Brad Crowell 8:48  

Go to retreats plural and get on the waitlist for next year. 

Lesley Logan 8:50  

Yeah. All right. Before we get into this awesome topic about mental health, do we have an audience question, Brad?

Brad Crowell 8:56  

We sure did. Thank you, Shawn from Youtube. What are the measurements for the arm and leg springs on the Cadillac if I wanted to make my Cadillac more classical? 

Lesley Logan 9:08  

So, I love this, Shawn. And here's the quick and dirty answer. I have listed the entire measurements for every place where you would want to place a hook on your Cadillac or tower or wall unit on the Cadillac flashcard. So you buy that flashcard deck. It's right there and also in centimeters because I am aware that the rest of the world uses the metric system. Is that correct?

Brad Crowell 9:29  

Yes, yes it is.

Lesley Logan 9:33  

Well, what system do we use? 

Brad Crowell 9:34  

Imperial.

Lesley Logan 9:35  

Imperial. That sounds so tough. Imperial? In this country an imperial system? What? That makes no sense. It makes me think of like, like going to the Great Wall of China. Imperial. Okay. 

Brad Crowell 9:50  

It's because we roll. 

Lesley Logan 9:51  

Wow, you know what, you guys, America makes us really wonder too. Okay, but I do have the metrics system listed, as well as the Imperial. Inches versus centimeters for people who were like, what's the translation there? If you're wanting to make your equipment more classical, if you're an OPC member, we actually help out with this a lot, by the way, because we can look at each particular piece of equipment and give you feedback on yours, also based on your body. But the other thing you want to consider everyone who is retrofitting or not even retrofitting, but just like making modifications to the equipment you have, it's very important, you know this, don't go buy clips at the hardware store, don't like you got to be really, really careful what you're doing, because your equipment that you have, is definitely tested to stand the test of time for the springs that are sold with it. So if you're buying springs, that are not the brand of equipment that you have, here is the deal, should some shit hit the fan. The way the insurance companies work, is your insurance company is going to get sued, don't stress about it, that's why you have one, but then your insurance company's gonna go to the manufacturer, manufacturer will go, nope, we don't use those springs on our equipment. Now, that doesn't mean you're personally responsible. It just means that your insurance company is going to take the fall for it and they don't get to pass the buck off to somebody else. Again, don't stress about it but you need to make sure that if you are making changes to your equipment that the clips that you buy go with the springs because the springs and the clips that they sell those springs have been tested for the torque of the springs. So if you go to the Home Depot, or I don't know what you call it in another country, those clips are not tested for the (inaudible) I don't know Home D. They didn't sponsor this episode. So (inaudible) we keep saying their name, but if you're gonna

Brad Crowell 11:49  

I bleed orange.

Lesley Logan 11:50  

Do you remember that okay, you guys. There's a reel, there's a reel where this girl she's like I have never pronounced an L so hard as when I went into the hardware store and said I need to buy some (inaudible) but anyways, okay, when you you don't want to so the moral the story don't buy your clips at a hardware store. Whatever springs you buy buy clips from that manufacturer because they are tested for the torque and tension of the spring and pressures about to happen keep that in mind. If you're gonna make changes people do this all the time. That doesn't mean it's right it just don't stress about it. 

Brad Crowell 12:32  

It's an FYI. 

Lesley Logan 12:32  

Just an FYI. 

Brad Crowell 12:33  

Shawn, thank you for that question on YouTube. And if you would like to leave a question for us, where should they go? 

Lesley Logan 12:40  

Oh, you can just leave it anywhere. Apparently we just pick them up anywhere. We just pick them up anywhere. So I infusing it into the Be It Pod is much easier. But just like the T the TL didn't listen TL DL. You fast-forward it. Get the flashcards for the Cadillac Deck they are they are they are also labeled for towers and you will have the measurements there. 

Brad Crowell 13:01  

OPC.me/flashcards. Okay, now let's talk about [Steve] Wilson. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1978. After years of misdiagnosis and struggles, including a pivotal stay in a mental institution, he eventually found stability. Beyond writing his book Teetering On a Tightrope: My Bipolar Journey in 2022, [Steve] dedicates his time to facilitating two mental health support groups, providing a hope and understanding to those navigating similar challenges.

Lesley Logan 13:37  

Yeah, so I have to say like, the more I thought about him, the more I thought about his wife that he's been married to forever. 

Brad Crowell 13:44  

Yeah. She's a rockstar.

Lesley Logan 13:45  

And when I told my dad about this guy, and my dad was like I said, he has been married for this many years. And he goes, Wow, she's tough. Like, and

Brad Crowell 13:53  

50-year 50-something years of marriage and for part of it, he was like

Lesley Logan 13:58  

Misdiagnosed

Brad Crowell 13:59  

Completely misdiagnosed.

Lesley Logan 14:00  

Mismedicated. And so I kind of I resonate with that. And I wanted to have him on for some reason. First of all, I fell in love with him in like a pre-interview chat. And he he is, you know, dying as we speak. Like he he didn't tell me why he's dying. But he does. He's dying. So. So I wanted to have him on as quickly as possible because I really love that he is wanting to share and make a mental health something that we're all talking about. And he dedicates his time if you listen to the episode to like helping people talk about their mental health, but also like I just think that it's so it can be so hard and can feel so selfish when you are trying to make your magic happen and someone around you is suffering. And so one of my takeaways is it's very tough job to be a supporter. And you've got to love them. And you know, making sure they have housing and good stuff, but like, you can't, you also can't fix them. And that's the hardest part is that we all want to fix people. You know, I know everyone listening in here, a lot of them are teachers, a lot of them are in the service industry of some kind. And they like, and they're mostly are women and so you're inherently a caregiver who just want to love up and support people. But you, you can support them, but you don't have the answers. Unless you do. Unless you're trained in that. And then you do, like, why I have a client who is a psychologist who totally does, but um, but it can be really difficult, you know, even even her own personal life, she has some family members who have some mental health issues, and she can't (inaudible)

Lesley Logan 14:09  

You know, like, if it's family, they also know what you do, and it can be resentful, you know, or they can resent it. So yeah, it's tough. I mean, being a supporter.

Lesley Logan 15:49  

Yeah. And also, like, you know, something that I want to bring up that I think is important we had Lindsay, what's Lindsay's new last name? Lindsay, my old assistant, she did a course for us on Profitable Pilates, about being an advocate. And one of the first things she said, which is she was quoting somebody else, which is like, you can 

Brad Crowell 16:15  

Moore.

Lesley Logan 16:16  

Lindsey Moore. Lindsey, if you're listening, I'm so sorry, I can't remember your last name. It's not even new anymore. But she, she brought up a person's like, a quote in the industry is like, you could only advocate you can only support someone in the amount that you have energy-wise, like there's a Venn diagram of their needs, and what you have to offer. And it's very, very important that you are acknowledging what you have to offer because if you go beyond that, you now no longer can serve them, or yourself or the people you're responsible for in your life. And I think that can be really difficult when we're watching someone suffer, because we can want a lot of things for them. And he has bipolar disorder. But you know, we know people who have gross narcissism and things like that, like, it's really freaking hard, because you're like, I just want them to take their meds or I just want them to do these things. And you, you can love them, and you can support them, and you can advocate for them in the amount that you actually have. And that's really, really hard for people to live with. Because they want to do more.

Brad Crowell 17:20  

Yeah, and, you know, I'm sure there's many of you out there who are in a situation right now where you're supporting someone. And you know, what [Steve] was talking about what that was just loving them, you know, he talked about people say, angry things to you. And it's really easy, I guess, easy is the wrong word. But it's, you can get to the point where you just want to snap back and he said, you know, that will never work. It will not work. But yeah, I you know, it just makes me think back through the relationships that I've had in my life and, you know, seeing trying to be there trying to be supportive without also being pulled down yourself. That's really challenging.

Lesley Logan 18:10  

Yeah. Well, and that's but that's like that whole like, we all ignore. No one listens to security tips anymore on the plane, although we should because the door just blew off. But we like that was 

Brad Crowell 18:24  

Did you hear someone they found somebody's iPhone, it blew out of the plane 16,000 feet it landed, it was still working.

Lesley Logan 18:31  

What? Yeah, that's crazy. They also found the plug that came out in the first place, which like, yeah, at any rate, listen to the security thing. They say one thing that's very important, put your own air mask on first. And we all tend to give more than we have. And it's just, that's not gonna help anybody. And if you're not an expert in mental health it is okay to seek out an expert. And there's also a lot of groups you know, like in the world of AA and stuff like that. There's Al-Anon there's different, there's different groups for people who have people who suffer from mental health issues so that you can be seen by people who get you because like, you could tell you're, I have friends like you go to tell them a problem and they like just do not they're, it's okay for them to be the wrong person. You know, so, which I think is it's important to acknowledge that sometimes our friends are amazing, our family's amazing, but they're not the right support for us. If you're going with some if you have someone in your life or you yourself have a mental health situation. 

Brad Crowell 19:33  

Well, one thing that I really loved that he said, what that he talked about was after he moved to Arizona, and had the appropriate medical diagnosis and the meds he was on we're actually providing support for him. He really wanted to give back. And so actually, before he even moved, he was starting to do speaking at high schools and stuff. But he said, When he got to Arizona, he was they turned him away. Because he's in his 60s and trying to talk to like 15-year-olds, he wasn't as relatable as they were looking for. So he said, alright, well, I'm gonna go do this anyway. But I'm going to work in support groups. And so he started, he began facilitating two different support groups. And he's been doing that for the last eight years. And you know, his mission. He said, he started that whole thing back in the 90s when he had a clothing store, in Ohio, and two people, two young people, he knew had committed suicide, and that's really took him down the teen route and supporting teens, you know, and then today, you know, he's supporting these groups that are, you know, all ages, but it sounded to me, like his passion is still youth, and really working with youth. 

Brad Crowell 21:00  

And you had a great question for him, you asked him, hey, we got a lot of moms on this program. You know, how do you begin to identify or, you know, what do you do? If your kid is beginning to struggle and they're unwilling to talk to you or they're exhibiting these different signs, and he said, he said, watch your child and notice if there are changes in their moods or actions, and you do not probe that he said, the first telltale sign is that their overall attitude will shift, whether that whether they're playing like, maybe they're escaping into video games, or you notice that their grades are dropping, or they never go outside. You know, these are signs that there's there's very much like something that's mentally, like, they're struggling with something right. And for him, it was abuse or sexual abuse. Right? And his parents he said weren't paying attention, and they wouldn't have known what to do anyway, because nobody was talking about it 50 years ago, (inaudible) more than 50. He was it would have been, he's in the 70s now, he's in his 80's now?

Lesley Logan 22:14  

I don't know how old he is now. But it was, he was like eight 

Brad Crowell 22:17  

Yeah, he was he was less than 10 years. 

Lesley Logan 22:19  

So young. But you know what's crazy to me is like, we all talk about like, oh, the world was worse now than it was no, it was terrible then 

Brad Crowell 22:27  

Yeah he was raped as an eight-year-old in a movie theater (inaudible). 

Lesley Logan 22:32  

There was no language around that and no one was taught opening up like my parents were very much like, no one's gonna touch you, these are your private parts. You can only be touched here if you give permission like, but like, that wasn't happening. My dad was never told that. Do you know what I mean? Like I like think about my dad's age when I was thinking about Steven, and I was just like, that wasn't happening. We but we pretend like nothing was happening bad back then. But it was. It's just it wasn't on the news it wasn't getting from this location to another location. 

Brad Crowell 23:02  

And yeah, there wasn't the the Internet to disseminate, you know, that this has happened. happened

Lesley Logan 23:06  

This has and what are the telltale signs? And you know I 

Brad Crowell 23:08  

You don't hear about it. 

Lesley Logan 23:09  

I happened to, this morning, I happened to, I don't know why my news app came up, but and I also don't know why I clicked on this article. But I'm glad I did because I think it's really fitting for this. So Jessica Alba. I don't even know what she does today, in what, but she was interviewed for a magazine. Real Simple's first health issue, mental health issue, she was interviewed for it. And she was very open and honest that she and her daughters go to therapy together. And I was like, wow, that's so interesting that she would share that. And she actually shared how she got her daughters to go to therapy with her. And by the way, every one of my friends who has a daughter, I'm like, just so you know, they're gonna hate you for 10 years minimum, at least, you gotta let it go. You got to be prepared for that. Like they're just going to hate you. But Jessica Alba, she noticed that her daughters and her were having conflicts. And so she actually signed them up for therapy. And she said, this is your hour to tell me everything that you are upset about with me. And so parents listening, if you're trying to get your kiddos, to talk to you what's going on, what a great way to preface this is your vent hour like you can be up you can say everything you don't like about me in this container. And then there's a therapist there who can help you as a parent, articulate what they need, and also can help this kid that you're raising, you know, share what's going on with them. And like I just think it was I loved it. I was like, if my parents had told me, this is my parent venting hour I'm in therapy every week would have loved it. Mom, if you and dad are listening, just saying, that would have been a better marketing strategy.

Brad Crowell 24:53  

Yeah, she has a 15 and a 12-year-old daughter and then a younger son. 

Lesley Logan 24:58  

So anyways, I think it's really important that we know the signs when you have kids and also just like how to support people that are going through it. So that doesn't affect you in a way that is beyond what you can handle. It's okay.

Brad Crowell 25:13  

Yeah. He said if you if you do identify, you know, like a dramatic change like those, those things, he said, you need to connect with your kids. So figure out how to connect with them, how to build a relationship with them. Jessica Alba was give her daughters' venting time. He said, it's important that you don't straight up say that there's something wrong with them, and we need to fix it. So we're gonna go to a psychiatrist like, that is probably terrifying for them. Also mortifying for them, because they're probably feeling embarrassed or guilty.

Lesley Logan 25:50  

Anything wrong with them in high school and junior high, like everybody, but

Brad Crowell 25:53  

Also like, you know, like I you know, what did he say? He said he didn't tell anybody about his abuse for 30 years, 30 years before he told him what so he was 38 before he ever talked about it. Right? So it's the, the guilt and the fear associated with it, it makes it easy to hide that kind of a thing. And so he said, be gentle in the approach. Yeah. 

Lesley Logan 26:27  

Yeah. I think that's amazing. 

Brad Crowell 26:29  

All right. Let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with [Steve] Wilson? He said that it's a terribly long journey ahead, you know, to stabilize mental health. You know, and he was specifically talking about the two different types of bipolar disorder. And he I want to say he had type two, I think that's what he had. But, you know, you had a really interesting conversation about stability. And, you know, he said, we, he said, so many people in this country who are suffering, he said, 60 million people suffer from some kind of mental health, whether it's depression, or bipolar, or whatever. And he said, we could get start, we could start getting some things done if we, as a community, who maybe we are suffering ourselves, or maybe we know someone who is suffering. But the only reason the only way that change will happen in the in mental health in our country, in our communities, is if we become active in voicing, our desire for change for the need for support in this area is so important. I mean, I think that it's again, because of the Internet, it's so prevalent today, it's so, we can easily find all these instances where mental health is a problem today and it feels like there's nothing being done about it. And he said, actually, that there are less, there are less support groups today. There are less college psychiatrists today. There are less therapists today than there were, I don't actually know when the stats are, but in recent years, he said it's on a decline. Yeah. And, you know, a lot of that has to do with the business behind health care in our country. Right? The fact that the insurance companies make it really challenging to get coverage for these things and 

Lesley Logan 28:43  

They make it so challenging that the therapist can't make a living off of it. They don't take it anymore. So like,

Brad Crowell 28:50  

Otherwise, you're looking at paying out a couple hundred bucks a session. 300 bucks a session.

Lesley Logan 28:54  

Oh, my God, it's yeah, no, no, it's it's insane. And I don't fault the therapist for not taking insurance because like, I know how hard, in the United States, I know how difficult it is to get paid from insurance companies. You're waiting months. Yeah. And they bring it down to nothing. And so people have bills to pay. And it just needs to be some. That's a whole other topic. At any rate, I there are, what is amazing is there are look in your community. There are some support groups that are out there, it's, you're to find them. But like, you know, I know in Las Vegas, there's different support groups that are based off for different types of people. And there are charities that want to help you there are so you know if you are the person supporting someone who has is mentally ill, I think you know, use your Internet. Thank God we have it.

Brad Crowell 29:46  

Yeah, I definitely like completely sidetracked and took over your Be It point.

Lesley Logan 29:51  

Yeah, it's okay. I'm gonna go into it. 

Brad Crowell 29:52  

Well, well, you know, I think we can just you already talked about find in the Internet. He mentioned a company or an organization called NAMI, N-A-M-I, so, you know, find that website, and they have resources and tools on there for those who are suffering from mental health. And then also, you know, he talked about calling your congressperson. So to be quite honest, I mean, that is the easiest possible thing.

Lesley Logan 30:18  

Everybody, you know, call your congressman, we have a phone number, because there's a, there's a sweatshirt you can buy off Cricut media called call your congressperson. I think it's 222

Brad Crowell 30:29  

202-224-3121. And we'll put that in the show notes. 202-224-3121. And you can call them and you can tell them, hey, I live in this state, this is my zip code, and they will connect you with your congressperson. And you can just leave them a voicemail, you'll almost never get someone on the phone, you just leave them a voicemail, and you say, hi, you know, my name is this is my zip code and I really, really, really care about mental health. And I think that you, as my congressperson should be fighting on behalf of mental health. And you just need to tell them that that is literally what all you you need to do is call them and just leave that voicemail.

Lesley Logan 31:06  

And if you live in a different country, I don't know how to have your person's number for you, but I'm sure that's on the Internet as well. And they work for you. Whether you get to vote for them or not. They're supposed to work for you. So you call them you find a way to email them, things like that. Lastly, I just want to say he mentioned that the stigma against mental health in this world is terrible. Specific, it really frickin is I was so, so so proud of my dad the other day, we're driving the car. And we're talking about homelessness. And he said, well, most of them are mentally ill. And I was like, you're right. Thank you. They are. Like they're not like, you're I think people look at homeless people. And they're just like, they should just pull it up from their bootstraps. They could there's a job, there's jobs out there you should get them. Y'all you have to have a physical address for resume. You do. Period. You have to have physical address to get your money from the VA system, you have to have a physical addresses, PO Boxes don't work. 

Brad Crowell 31:07  

So if just if I'm sure none of you have been following along, but I've been supporting a homeless family now for five years, I think, four, four or five years. Yeah, they just finally got an address. Finally. 

Lesley Logan 32:18  

Yeah, so So can you just when you see people who are talking crazy on the sidewalk, I know it scares you. I know it makes you fearful, I know you want to turn away, we have got to stop. Other-ising people who have mental health issues. Because it is a prevalent problem in this country. It's prevalent in this world, there is help out there for the people, for people who can afford it or have access to it. And if you are at all able to make a phone call to your congressman person, please do. And if you've got someone in your life, who's got issues that need support, do not stop until you find them support, because we have to stop, we have to stop making it like they're weirdos. They're not. They're human beings who have hormone imbalance who have a genetic thing. 

Brad Crowell 33:12  

Chemical imbalance.

Lesley Logan 33:13  

Like, like it's so easy for this all to happen. And you also know what you might be depressed one day. So at any rate, this whole episode was not supposed to be done on a like a low note, my whole point of doing this is like I have seen what mental health issues in my own family have done to my own family and how they can tear people apart or make or strain relationships I have seen we lived in L.A. and we saw the effects of mental health that was unsupported. And I feel I am very, I'm very grateful for how that well this podcast is doing and I wanted to provide a story from someone who has who has actually suffered is suffering from it, who is actually doing amazing things and he's got a great book to help you. If you don't even understand what it's like to have mental health issues, the empathy that you could have after you read this book could be what you need to help you support other people. 

Brad Crowell 34:10  

Yeah, in fact, I think that's a perfect way to to end this. I'm actually going to read you the just the byline on this book here. From [Steve] the title the book is called teetering on a Tightrope: My Bipolar Journey he wrote in 2022. He said, as an energetic normal boy of nine, Stephen W. Wilson would not have guessed that the most horrifying day of his life was lurking just months ahead. From that terrifying day when he was at the theater to a suicide to his suicidal ideations. His attempt to kill his father and his subsequent hospitalization, Teetering on a Tightrope sweeps the reader headlong into the abyss of bipolar disorder. Wilson propels the reader into his sometimes out-of-control mind, inability to perform sexually and overwhelming anger. Despite all that Steven Wilson gushes about the monumental times when he was in a state of normalcy and could enjoy life's golden moments, all centered around his family and his friends. Teetering On a Tightrope shows that those who suffer from bipolar disorder can experience a full and productive life. So there is hope.

Lesley Logan 35:17  

I'm Lesley Logan. 

Brad Crowell 35:18  

And I'm Brad Crowell. 

Lesley Logan 35:18  

Thank you so much for joining us today. You are amazing. And we are so grateful for you. How are you going to use these tips in your life, we want to know. Tag the Be It Pod, send us your questions, shoot us a friend who needs it. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Brad Crowell 35:31  

Bye for now. 

Lesley Logan 35:33  

That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. 

Lesley Logan 36:00  

Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 36:15  

It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 36:20  

It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at disenyo.co.

Brad Crowell 36:25  

Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music, and our branding by designer and artist Gianfranco Cioffi.

Lesley Logan 36:32  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 36:35  

Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.

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