48. The Bipolar Businessman: How Thomas Duncan Bell Rewired His Mind to Save His Life

In this powerful episode of It Starts With You, Vicky O'Farrell sits down with Thomas Duncan Bell, also known as The Bipolar Businessman, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about mental health, trauma, and the pursuit of purpose. Thomas opens up about living with a "smorgasbord" of mental health conditions including ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and more, sharing how childhood trauma shaped his self-worth and behaviours into adulthood. From standing on a train track ready to end his life, to founding Wellbeing in the Wilderness, a global initiative helping people heal through adventure, Thomas's story is one of raw pain, resilience, and transformation. You as the listener will come away with a better understanding of how early life experiences shape adult behaviour, why performance is often mistaken for self-worth, and how discomfort can be the key to growth. Thomas offers practical insights into wellbeing, including his four-layer wellbeing pyramid, and shares how movement, presence, and human connection can rewire a fractured mind. Whether you've experienced mental health challenges or simply want to better support others, this episode will leave you inspired, informed, and reminded that no one is ever truly alone.     . "It Starts with You" podcast is available everywhere on Wednesdays every fortnight.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review! Thank you, Vic.      Let's Connect! Follow Vic O'Farrell via the Queen of Behaviours  Instagram - @vicofarrell LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaofarrell/ Email – [email protected] Website - www.queenofbehaviours.com Work with Vicky Showreel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTWViLzyLkU Programmes: https://queenofbehaviours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Programmes-2024-new-copy.pdf Speaker Pack: https://queenofbehaviours.com/speaker/   FREE RESOURCES Newsletter: https://mymailers.biz/qob/?fbclid=IwAR3CWpPKNLH0Qy7_9fDBYrCK0o6PdDXfHD08phcq8_okFfJM9UT6cAvIFOo Understand Different Personalities: https://form.jotform.com/250735619744363 Quick Guide to Disc: https://queenofbehaviours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Quick-Guide-to-DISC.pdf DISC for Team Success: https://queenofbehaviours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Using-DISC-.pdf   For updates on new episodes and everything podcast related Watch the podcast on YouTube:  www.youtube.com/@queenofbehaviours Instagram - @itstartswithyoupodcastqob Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/queenofbehaviours TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itstartswithyoupodcast LinkedIn Page - https://www.linkedin.com/company/queenofbehaviours/ Website - www.queenofbehaviours.com/podcast   About the Guest Thomas Duncan bell is a well-known mental health expert, author and key note speaker who has spend the last decade helping people to find a more sustainable level of happiness. He now runs www.wellbeinginthewilderness.com a company who run adventure challenges around the world, which include wellbeing workshops throughout, while participants raise money for charity. The aim being to help people on a journey to self development, while connecting people on a more humanistic level.   Get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/thebipolarbusinessman https://www.instagram.com/wellbeinginthewilderness [email protected]  https://www.wellbeinginthewilderness.com/about-us, https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebipolarbusinessman/