136: Own Your Health

The stigma of mental health in a South Asian family can be complex, with loved ones often denying or minimizing issues. Their actions, even if they are well-intentioned, can be harmful to their family members living with bipolar. The immigrant experience, often characterized by keeping up appearances and the collectivist mindset, is unfortunately a common one. Perhaps, by sharing more of these experiences and breaking down at least some of the barriers that exist, we can start to shift the attitudes toward bipolar and other mental illnesses. For Nikhil Torsekar, this narrative is all too familiar. One day, he seemed to have it all—a loving family, a first-class education and a thriving career—until suddenly, it came crashing down. He lost his job, abruptly filed for divorce and had nowhere to live. Turns out, he had been suffering from undiagnosed bipolar disorder for 20 years. After becoming suicidal and receiving a diagnosis at 40-years-old, he finally began his journey toward healing. With the help and support of his wife, Shelly Sood, the pair now share their story on a successful podcast and blog, and are now working on a book and movie to tell their story about mental health. Their message, above all else, is to untether your life. Tune in to hear more about how with the right combination of tools—medication, therapy and supportive relationships—you can start your own healing journey, and take ownership of your mental health. Topics discussed in this episode: Nikhil’s journey to diagnosis The immigrant experience The three-legged stool: medication, therapy, relationships Sore state of mental healthcare in India Untethering your life Taking ownership of your health Finding and joining a community The fundamentals of breathing Head to Apple Podcasts to listen to the Shelly Story, a podcast about owning your own health, co-hosted by Nikhil and his wife, Shelly Sood. You can also find them at shellysood.com. Connect with Shelly and Nikhil: Linkedin Twitter Instagram Connect with Paris: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn To hear more episodes, visit Apple podcasts. Be sure to write a review and let me know your thoughts on the show!