Within the framework of the 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, a special open hearing of the first episode of the podcast BiPolar Opposites took place on Saturday, March 15th at the Green Room within Olympion theater. The podcast was researched, written, and narrated by Valia Dimitrakopoulou, with sound mixing, sound design, and original music by Daphne Tsiouni. It was created following an open call issued by the non-profit journalistic organization iMEdD and the Thessaloniki Film Festival. The audio documentary BiPolar Opposites dives into the universe of bipolar disorder, aiming to demystify and destigmatize it through personal testimonies and interviews with experts.
The event was prefaced by the Festival’s Head of Communication and Press Office, Dimitra Nikolopoulou: “Creations that are very important have come about as a result of our collaboration with iMEdD. BiPolar Opposites is a deeply personal podcast that helps us understand that our neighbor is one of us,” she stressed. Then, Panagiotis Menegos, iMEdD’s Podcast Project Manager and moderator of the discussion, welcomed the audience and introduced the speakers sitting alongside the podcast’s creators, the psychiatry resident, Anna Zaoutsou, and the poet/translator and journalist Krystalli Glyniadakis. “I’d like to thank Valia and Daphne for all those months working on this podcast, which, after all, is not the only one. It evolved into a three-episode series, and at this point I’d like to note that the non-linear narration we adopted in this was intentional. We used Valia as the patient, journalist, and narrator, and in a way, we attempted to merge these three voices. Our goal was to evoke emotion without being overly sentimental, and judging from your reactions we managed it.”
Daphne Tsiouni initially took the floor: “Sound itself is a medium transmitting notions and symbolisms in a very intense manner. It can transport you to different places and circumstances. As it happens, I have been friends with Valia for many years and I know her mindset. The topic itself also has a strong imaginative element. What happens within a person’s mind during a manic episode is incredibly rich. My objective was to use sound to reinforce the emotions she was experiencing in every different circumstance.”
As Panagiotis Menegos emphasized, one of the things they wished to achieve with the creation of the podcast was the destigmatization of mental illness, and that is why they avoided an overly sentimental approach in its depiction. Giving the floor to the podcast’s creators, the moderator of the discussion inquired as to how and when they first openly spoke about their diagnosis. “I first spoke about it publicly in an article in 2017. Since then, I've tried to talk about it more often. One of the reasons people suffer from bipolar disorder is because they feel that those around them don't understand them,” Ms. Dimitrakopoulou stressed, while Ms. Glyniadakis added: “In contrast to Valia, I’m a bipolar type 2, and this – to put it simply – means I experience episodes of hypomania. For a long time, I felt I couldn’t raise the issue of bipolar disorder as I was quite functional compared to other patients in times of crisis. Two or three years ago, I wrote a small essay and the messages I received helped me understand that I should speak about it more.”
For her part, Anna Zaoutsou, psychiatry resident, commented on the strength required for one to speak openly, while referring to the stereotypes that society has for the people suffering from the disorder in question. “Usually, these people isolate themselves. Exposing such issues in public is a very courageous action. There is a false impression that bipolars are dangerous or unpredictable, but also a general underestimation of the situation. There is also the impression that all bipolars are the same, but, as we learn from the podcast, there are as many different diagnoses as there are bipolars. There is a large heterogeneity, and simultaneously, significant underdiagnosis.”
Speaking about stereotypes, as well as the situations she experienced growing up, Ms. Dimitrakopoulou noted: “The person with bipolar disorder thinks they are the center of the universe, which is a heavy thing to carry. It is important to be able to perceive yourself from a distance and understand you will overcome this. Let it run its course. The person with bipolar disorder also has impressive clarity.” Krystalli Glyniadakis then said: “My experience was different. Although I had the impression that I was the center of the universe, I did not show it too much. There was a limit to the number of fantasies I could express. Until I reached the age of 28 and during a breakup, I woke up and couldn't get out of bed. It was the first time I felt like I needed to talk to a specialist, and I finally understood how all the episodes of joy and hypomania I'd been having went hand in hand with the depressive ones.”
During the discussion, the panelists touched upon the media representation of mental health issues, and Ms. Glyniadakis stressed that “a person without bipolar disorder can not comprehend it. Which is okay. I’m not going to take offense just because someone, in their attempt to understand me, might make a mistake. This situation has taught me that each person experiences and feels the world differently. We will try to understand each other. Not all of us will use the same language. As long as there is empathy, we will strive not to offend each other, but it's okay if someone happens to slip up once. Malicious intent is the issue.” Ms. Dimitrakopoulou then underlined the necessity of another “MeToo” movement, but this time for mental health. “We shouldn’t be afraid to speak out. It’s not us versus them. Addressing such matters in major media is of the utmost importance. At the same time, accepting that you are alone in this world, experiencing understanding from those around you, yet lacking absolute resonance and a shared experience, is very important.”
Shortly before the conclusion of the discussion, the issue of “self-medication” was addressed, as well as its dangerous repercussions. Anna Zaoutsou expressed her opinion on the matter, emphasizing that there is a growing tendency for self-treatment, and the adoption of easy and fast solutions, which can have devastating consequences for patients. She also went on to say that managing such conditions should always be done under the supervision of an attending physician, as each patient’s case is unique.
For her part, Anna Kynthia Bousdoukou, iMEdD’s Co-founder and Managing Director, SNF Dialogues Executive Director, and a journalist, expressed her opinion on unsolicited self-diagnosis, pointing out that in Greek society it is common for everyone to have an opinion on how to treat a patient. “The role of journalism is exactly that: to put this subject under the microscope and establish a framework, so that testimonies and scientific opinions emerge, such as those we are hearing today. That is how we can finally become better acquainted with mental health issues and more accustomed to them. So, let’s reflect on what our role is, cultivate it from whichever professional field each of us comes from and then explore how we can serve it to ensure correct decisions are being taken,” she added.
After the conclusion of the hearing, the attendees congratulated the creators on their podcast and their courage. In response to a question about how someone finds an equilibrium between sharing their experience while protecting themselves from re-exposure to trauma, Ms. Dimitrakopoulou said: “I feel that I now have the tools to identify when I’m experiencing an episode and reign it in. However, in any case, I find that it is more important to speak than to keep silent out of fear of a new episode occurring.”
The podcast’s three episodes are available on podcast.imedd.org, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
