The relaunch of BBB & 2025 wrap
This site has sat dormant since summer ‘22, but my life has been moving, changing and evolving in MANY ways ever since. I still focus on my mental health, and work to ensure I prioritize the necessities, like sleep, strong relationships and open communication. I’ve been doing mental health advocacy through things like leading the mental health Employee Resource Group at my (former) job, continuing involvement in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police officers with the local NAMI chapter, and volunteering at the RMHC Family Room on Rogers Behavioral Health campus in Oconomowoc.
Even without BBB blog posts, or Instagram content, I’ve been able to share my story in a way that impacts others, and acknowledges my own need for balance. That’s something I’m super proud of! But I’ve been missing the experience of openly sharing my mental health journey online, and I think 2026 is the perfect year to get back into it. But first - a conclusion to 2025. And not only 2025, but a huge chapter in my life.
When I tell my story, or share the mental health journey I’ve been on, I often reference the immense privileges I experienced. For example, having incredible insurance in 2018 that covered all the expenses associated with in-patient treatment, out-patient care and the continued maintenance appointments with my psychologist and therapist. Even something as simple as getting monthly medications, after the sometimes excruciating experience of finding the right fit, can cost hundreds of dollars. I’m used to paying roughly $20/month for meds.
Then, on November 10th, 2025 I was impacted by a wave of layoffs at Yelp. It was my 11 year anniversary at the company (to the date), and ironically, it felt like time. Now don’t get me wrong - I wasn’t trying to leave Yelp. And my core was certainly shook when they told me the news. But the reality is, I was comfortable. I made a decent salary, had full flexibility, and enjoyed the work I did. But the real reason I stayed was the security of health insurance. The stability of managing my bipolar disorder with ease. Keeping the same doctors, auto-fill prescriptions, maintenance, BALANCE.
When I thought about the hypothetical possibility of losing my job (which I definitely thought about, and sometimes had nightmares about), my biggest fear was losing steady income and losing the security of good insurance to manage my mental health. When I was laid off though, those fears weren’t the first thing on my mind. Which is how I know the foundation I’ve built these past 7 years since my hospitalization is strong.
Many Americans are faced with expensive healthcare increases for 2026. And being able to afford it or access basic medical needs will be a struggle for lots of people. I’m fortunate again in this situation to have COBRA coverage paid for by Yelp through the end of February ‘26, and an upcoming wedding on 1/26/2026 allowing me to go on my partner Tony’s healthcare. For our entire (nearly 9 year) relationship, Tony has worked for himself and not had the job benefits of company provided insurance. We always planned for him to join the great Yelp insurance I had once we got married. Ironically enough, Tony started a new job in 2025 to supplement his business, and now has health benefits through an employer, which I will be able to join before my COBRA runs out.
These are all the unimportant details. The point is - for anyone managing a mental health disorder or diagnosis, first I want to acknowledge the work and responsibility it takes to keep up with doctors appointments, deal with pharmacists and manage your mental health. If something like insurance or medication coverage is an issue you struggle with, definitely look into things like GoodRx (prescription coupons for major pharmacy brands), or directly through the website of the medication pharmaceutical company. There are often ways to apply for discount pricing on recurring medication items.
Next, I want to call out how tricky these systems can be to navigate. So if you’re having a hard time, or supporting someone in your life with mental health disorders, please know that it’s a complicated and taxing process when even the slightest thing gets out of line. I consider myself a smart person with a lot of resources, and I misunderstood the first COBRA notice I received. I read it to say, ‘Yelp has covered the expenses of COBRA through the end of February. If you want to elect COBRA coverage for beyond February, fill out this election form’.
In reality, everyone needed to fill out the election form, even though Yelp already paid for the COBRA coverage. Mind you - none of my insurance cards, or coverage details are changing. But I spent hours on the phone with 2 different companies trying to sort it out so I wouldn’t have to pay market price for my bipolar medication refills at the pharmacy.
At the end of the day, managing my bipolar disorder is something that I’ll always have to do. I’m grateful for the resources I have, but always want to call out challenges I notice in the systems, and destigmatize the process of managing a mental health disorder and taking care of yourself.
I wouldn’t have chosen to end my career at Yelp, or have the podcast I hosted come to an end. But after 11 years, and a ton of experience telling stories and supporting small business owners, I think it’s time to take all that I’ve learned and bring it together. My mental health journey has taught me that my neurodiversity is more of a strength than it is a weakness. The ‘super powers’ it brings me far outweigh the negative effects. But that’s only as true as I’m able to stay balanced. Taking the time to prioritize myself, and my mental health has not decreased my effectiveness or ability to succeed. If anything, it’s enhanced it.
And I know that to be true for entrepreneurs as well. Entrepreneurship is a grind. It can be a lonely road, and it’s certainly a rollercoaster of highs and lows. For us millennials, whether it’s entrepreneurship, or just ‘work culture’, we grew up on the ‘rise & grind’ mentality. ‘Successful people never sleep’ mantras. I don’t believe in that crap. And I think some of the most successful people (leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, executives …) will tell you, the moment they prioritized themselves (their health, their family …) their business boomed, or their success flourished.
It might not always feel linear of course. When I was hospitalized in October 2018, I couldn’t imagine missing even a week of work to take care of myself. That’s how important I thought I was - I thought my work was! But luckily I had a really amazing inpatient doctor, who also knew my family. And he told me I could only do my first time in treatment 1 time. So I better do it right and really take care of things. And boy was he right.
Not only did everything at work get covered, canceled or taken care of, but I NEEDED that 11 weeks of treatment and therapy and recombobulation, so I could actually return to work in January and be effective and productive. I didn’t believe that I would be as successful, because I was told I’d need to adhere to stronger boundaries around working at night, travel, etc. But within 3 months back at work I realized that taking those steps were actually helping me be MORE effective. I was more focused when I was working. I multitasked less. I realized how much wasted energy I had been using, working all the time.
And the reality is, working all the time made me feel important. But once I had a reason to prioritize myself and my mental health, I realized that was more important. And made me more effective! I don’t think only people with diagnoses, or post mental health episodes should learn about, and take care of their mental health. I think we all should! But it takes real trust in yourself to first pull back something you think is more important so you have the time. And realizing you’ll still be effective if you work 1 less hour a day and instead sleep 1 more. In reality - you’ll probably be MORE effective.
This is getting lengthy, so let me wrap by saying that this period of transition feels exactly right. Work had been exhausting, stressful and a tad less enjoyable the last year or so, but I wasn’t planning to find something better. Being let go has allowed me the opportunity to pursue what I want. To take my audio and video equipment, and elevate conversations about mental health in a way that destigmatizes and shows what’s really possible for people when they take care of themselves and their mind.
There will be a lot more blog posts here in the coming weeks, and you can also check out the Bipolar Brought Balance instagram account for video clips and shorter form content as well. If you have questions for me or topics you think I should cover - email emily@bipolarbroughtbalance.com
And be sure to share this blog with anyone you think it could help!
