Changeover-How my lived experience changed my life, my work as a psychiatrist, and how it resulted in the establishment of a support group for prosumers in Germany.

Abstract

How does it feel to be a doctor and a patient? What impact does my lived experience have on my work as a psychiatrist? In the present narrative, I describe my personal experiences with bipolar disorder and my difficulties in accepting the diagnosis of a mental health disorder due to mental health stigma. I outline the possible benefits resulting from a deeper insight into a psychological crisis (e.g., more empathy and patience). I describe the establishment of a support and interest group for prosumers diagnosed with bipolar disorder in Germany and its activities of offering support to colleagues and providing public information and education aimed at reducing the stigma of mental health disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).