“Believe it or not I actually got up & hugged the doctor, I was so relieved that it had a name.” “While everyone kept telling me I was fine I felt like I was going crazy because I knew differently.”
This is how Emma Medeiros describes her 3-year struggle from the delicate ages of 13 to 16 before she was finally relieved to find the answers, she & her parents were desperately seeking to find. Receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder formally known as manic-depressive illness which is a mental illness that causes extreme swings in mood, energy, activity levels, & concentration is difficult for anyone of any age or gender to process. Add to this the already extreme pressures & challenges of being a very young teenage girl that is already navigating adolescent life & the deep waters of middle school & normal changes in hormones. These are just a few of the challenges Emma experienced while going to therapists & doctors at a very young age to pinpoint her very real & delicate emotions. The now President of the successful agency Mederios Fashions PR recalls what it was like on her difficult journey of diagnosis and shares her joy as a result of finding balance & becoming a wife and proud business owner today.
What gave you the courage to speak out and share your story? How do you feel presently?
I realized several years ago how similar mental illness is to sex. Lol! No, seriously at least when it comes to talking about it. It can be awkward, uncomfortable, and scary, which only leads to misunderstanding and people making bad decisions based on ignorance & misinformation. It’s the exact same with mental illness, and I realized the more I talked about it the less scary it was!
Thankfully, I feel fabulous presently because my condition has been stable for many years through a combination of medication, therapy, and an incredible support system of family & friends.
What are some steps you feel that can be taken in society to further remove the stigma of mental illness?
First, educating the public about what exactly mental illness is. Again, the more you know the less scary it seems. People need to understand that it is a real disease that deserves treatment just like any other medical condition although there is no definitive testing or way to “prove” you have a mental illness, it is still very much so a valid condition. Secondly, helping parents to spot the warning signs early, particularly if there is a family history of mental illness. Just like any other disease, catching it early leads to a much higher chance of successful treatment. Thirdly, talking about it in school in a relaxed ONGOING way. Health class should definitely include a segment on mental health so kids can identify their feelings and learn how to talk to their parents or another trusted adult if they feel they need help.
Does balancing marriage & Career bring up any challenges or triggers for you now?
Luckily, I’ve been stable since long before my marriage, so I know how to handle any triggers before it affects my amazing relationship with my hubby. I do remember a time however while dating each other when he really annoyed me about something, so I snapped at him. He looked all concerned and said, “I guess you must be having a bipolar episode huh?” I was incredulous and said, “No, you’re just pissing me off!” Can’t blame EVERYTHING on Bipolar, after all!
Tell us more about Medeiros PR firm & how it got started.
I was about to graduate from Emerson College in 2012 with a Marketing degree and knew I wanted to focus on public relations. I figured I’d work for someone else I could make my mistakes on their watch for a few years and then open my own company. I assumed I would have my pick of plus size PR firms since the Plus Sized industry was exploding, however after vigorous searching, & searching I was only able to find two or three which floored me considering literally 70 % of the country’s population is plus size! I knew then & there that I was meant to fill the void & thus help create more opportunities for other plus-sized models, & designers in the process.
Did you always feel you would do something in public relations or fashion?
Um, not exactly. My husband jokingly threatens to release teenage pictures of me to my fashion friends because I was NOT a fashionista in the least back then. I usually just wore overalls paired with my older brother’s flannel shirts and my “beauty routine” consisted of washing my face with a Dial bar soap and maybe brushing my hair. I even had a (gulp) unibrow! Thank God, that started to change when I got to college and gradually found my own style when I got to know myself better & became more comfortable in my own skin, especially when I realized how empowering the right clothes could be.
What are your future goals moving forward both with the company & your family?
For the company, I’d like to keep bringing more clients, of course, & I only accept those who bring something truly unique to the industry. For example, Darryl Perry (https://www.instagram,com/khololifestyle/) is not only an amazing black Big & Tall model but also the creator of the What’s Up, Lil Bro? video series https://www.instagram,com/-whatsuplilbro/) that motivates young men to become their greatest selves by teaching them fundamental life lessons like controlling their tempers, helping build their confidence, & learning healthy coping skills, and bursting through the world’s stereotypes, all in a relaxed, open, engaging manner. For my family, my husband and I are looking to purchase our first home in about two years, likely back up north so we’d be closer to our families we’re both from (Rhode Island). I also have a brand-new nephew, Castiel, who lives there that needs time with his Auntie Em!
What’s a word of encouragement you would offer to any youth & young adults that may be going through similar mental health issues?
While I know this sounds harsh DO NOT feel sorry for yourself. Mind over matter will literally make or break you, which my father made me realize one day during a trial & error period. I was whining to him about having to take these meds that made me gain weight and feel so tired. Instead of him saying “poor baby”, he looked me straight in the eye & told me I should thank God that there is medication for this. While it stung a little at first it helped cause a shift in my perspective, because I realized if I had lived 100 years ago, I would have ended up in a straight jacket in an insane asylum for the rest of my life. That reversal in attitude literally changed my life forever.
Through her bravely told story which Emma has been able to share with such poise & humor so much light has been shed on bipolar disorder & I such as herself now know that it does not have to be the end of the world, but in fact quite the opposite if treated properly it can be the beginning of a bright & amazing new one instead. I am honored to have been chosen and trusted to help bring Emma’s story to a broader audience. The reason I use the word “Trusted” is because I know that even in the year 2022 despite how far we have come in humanity this is still often considered as a taboo subject. I also felt personally connected to this story because I was around the same age as herself when I began to deal with my own bit of depression & low self-esteem & feeling as if I didn’t belong in my own peer group, although this sort of blues I experienced pales in comparison I found her story relatable on so many personal levels as my sister also has been diagnosed with a mood disorder & Multiple sclerosis, which I help her with in acting as her caregiver. One of the biggest things that stuck out to me during this interview was where she credited her Father with helping to shift her perspective on not feeling sorry for herself & seeing the diagnosis and medications as a gift in which she should be thankful to God for. It gave me a sort of since of relief as well as hope that my sister will still be able to experience a full life despite her present challenges. I know that beyond the shadow of a doubt if her story was able to uplift & inspire me in this way it will help to inspire many others of our readers as well. As a result of her heartfelt pain & frustration many other young people will now know that it is not only possible to live with this condition but thrive with it & be fully functional & fulfilled adults just like Emma.
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