🧠He’s a psychiatrist who also has bipolar disorder. Now, he’s on a mission to redefine it.
In this powerful episode, host Clément Baissat sits down with Dr. James Le Bas, a psychiatrist who shares his unique "double skill"—the medical expertise of a doctor combined with the lived experience of a person with the condition. After stopping his psychiatric work to focus on this new project , James is researching a new model of bipolarity, detailed in his book, Beyond Bipolar.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to move beyond shame and find deeper meaning in their diagnosis.
You will discover:
- 🧬 The "FASAD" Personality: James introduces his new model for the personality traits many people with bipolar disorder share: Fear, Anxiety, Self-esteem variations, Striving, Addiction, and Depression.
- 🌍 An Evolutionary Perspective: Why does this condition exist? James explores his fascinating theory that bipolarity has evolutionary roots, linking episodes to our ancestors' relationship with their social group and the quest for prestige.
- 🔗 The Addiction Connection: James explains why addiction is a core element for so many (affecting up to 70% of people ) and his belief that the bipolar condition is "built on addictive pathways".
- ❤️‍🩹 From Shame to Healing: The two discuss the difficult, decades-long journey of diagnosis , the challenge of acceptance , and navigating the deep-seated shame that often comes with the condition.
- 👨‍⚕️ The Doctor-Patient Dilemma: James shares the unique difficulty of being a psychiatrist with bipolar disorder , the fear of stigma from colleagues, and why he didn't disclose his condition for decades