What Stability Really Requires: Breana Grayson on Bipolar Disorder, Stigma, and Support at Work

Amy Pons hosts Women Making Moves and interviews writer Breana Grayson about living with bipolar disorder, what “stability really requires,” and the stigma and misunderstandings that still surround bipolar (“one of the ‘scary ones’”).

Breana explains that medication is essential for her but not sufficient; stability also involves therapy, psychiatric care, consistent sleep, exercise, diet, and enjoyable practices like writing, guitar, and “therapy based kind of yoga,” and she defines stability as moving through life without derailing relationships or work.

They discuss how menstrual cycles can affect symptoms, Breana’s use of cycle tracking and astrology to document patterns, and her diagnosis process at 25 through an intensive outpatient program after work and relationship difficulties. Brianna argues remote and flexible work are not favors but protect productivity, and she advocates proactive workplace support, education, and community so people don’t handle bipolar alone.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:47 Stability and Root Chakra

01:22 Bipolar Stability Routine

02:22 Redefining Normal

03:46 Yoga and Creative Coping

04:33 Bipolar Stigma Myths

05:46 Cycles Hormones Astrology

08:51 Sharing Her Story at 26

09:23 Diagnosis at 25

10:32 Screening and Medication Risks

11:58 Childhood Signs and School Support

14:58 Remote Work as Accommodation

17:51 Workplace Support Strategies

20:37 Mental Health Across Generations

25:21 Advice Find Community

27:04 Where to Follow and Closing