Fashion model and author Rosie Viva: My life with bipolar

Rosie Viva used to travel the world as a fashion model. It wasn’t until being arrested after a psychotic episode in Stansted Airport that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. On the week of World Bipolar Day, Rosie joins Emilie on Well Enough to ask: what does the world still get wrong about bipolar, especially for women.Rosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’ charts her journey with bipolar. She documents mania, depression and recovery all whilst navigating relationships, jobs and her new identity. In today’s episode, she also shares her one rule for drinking on medication, how to manage hypomania without losing the magic, and why thinking she was Susan Boyle for a week taught her family not to challenge delusions.Follow the show:Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Useful links:Rosie’s SubstackRosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’‘Maybe its bipolar?’ test from Bipolar UKSamaritansTimecodes:00:00 What Is Bipolar Disorder? Breaking Down the Basics02:46 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bipolar: Understanding the Difference05:21 Misdiagnosis: When Doctors Miss Bipolar in Women08:16 The Psychotic Episode That Changed Everything10:11 Religious Delusions & Mania: My Breaking Point11:26 Arrested at Stansted Airport: The Baggage Drop Incident13:01 The Shame Around Mental Illness Nobody Talks About15:16 Getting the Right Medication: Why It Takes Time17:26 When Therapy Goes Wrong: My NHS Experience20:01 Managing Hypermania: Practical Tools That Work22:16 Navigating Friendships with Bipolar Disorder24:51 PMDD & Bipolar: The Hidden Connection for Women27:31 Can Women with Bipolar Be Stable? The Answer Is Yes29:56 How to Know If You Have Bipolar: First Steps32:31 Making My Channel 4 Documentary: Telling My Story35:26 Is My Madness Actually Magic? Reframing Bipolar38:01 The Euphoria of Hypermania: Like Astronauts in Space39:21 Drinking with Bipolar: My One Simple Rule Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What this episode covers

Rosie Viva used to travel the world as a fashion model. It wasn’t until being arrested after a psychotic episode in Stansted Airport that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. On the week of World Bipolar Day, Rosie joins Emilie on Well Enough to ask: what does the world still get wrong about bipolar, especially for women.Rosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’ charts her journey with bipolar. She documents mania, depression and recovery all whilst navigating relationships, jobs and her new identity. In today’s episode, she also shares her one rule for drinking on medication, how to manage hypomania without losing the magic, and why thinking she was Susan Boyle for a week taught her family not to challenge delusions.Follow the show:Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Useful links:Rosie’s SubstackRosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’‘Maybe its bipolar?’ test from Bipolar UKSamaritansTimecodes:00:00 What Is Bipolar Disorder? Breaking Down the Basics02:46 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bipolar: Understanding the Difference05:21 Misdiagnosis: When Doctors Miss Bipolar in Women08:16 The Psychotic Episode That Changed Everything10:11 Religious Delusions & Mania: My Breaking Point11:26 Arrested at Stansted Airport: The Baggage Drop Incident13:01 The Shame Around Mental Illness Nobody Talks About15:16 Getting the Right Medication: Why It Takes Time17:26 When Therapy Goes Wrong: My NHS Experience20:01 Managing Hypermania: Practical Tools That Work22:16 Navigating Friendships with Bipolar Disorder24:51 PMDD & Bipolar: The Hidden Connection for Women27:31 Can Women with Bipolar Be Stable? The Answer Is Yes29:56 How to Know If You Have Bipolar: First Steps32:31 Making My Channel 4 Documentary: Telling My Story35:26 Is My Madness Actually Magic? Reframing Bipolar38:01 The Euphoria of Hypermania: Like Astronauts in Space39:21 Drinking with Bipolar: My One Simple Rule Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This episode was published on April 1, 2026.

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