Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes -
“It’s not like you are just sad in just the general sense of being sad. You just feel like you could be doing so much more or anything more for yourself then what you’re doing. And then you get more mad at yourself for being stuck.” 27:34
“It was hard for my whole family.” 37:40
“If you were to put yourself inside of a drum, like a steel drum, and then sink it under water and tumble it and just spin it and you can feel the pressure of the water pushing you deeper and deeper and deeper, and you’re spinning… that’s what it felt like all day, every day, for months.” 49:55
“The biggest step for me was connecting with a psychiatrist.” 55:36
“If you have a severe mental health disorder and you need medication, being patient and willing to keep doing it and being consistent with it, is everything.” 58:38
“I see other things I have in my life besides volleyball.” 1:01:33
Guest Bio -
Cole Fiers is a beach volleyball player, world traveling surfer and amazing coach and mentor. While attending Stanford University as a member of the Men’s Indoor Volleyball team, he had his first battle with manic depressive disorder and since then has learned to advocate and set an example for others to promote better mental health.
Show Notes -
0:00 - WIMTS Podcast Intro
0:15 - Introducing Cole Fiers
0:43 - Welcome to Cole
2:33 - Awareness for Mental Health Started at 18 Years Old
4:39 - How Do You Foster Self Awareness?
6:01 - Started Feeling Anxiety at 18
8:44 - Family Trauma
12:14 - Starting College at Stanford
16:26 - First Time in Therapy
20:12 - Mom Found Tom Curuso & I Was Ready to Play Volleyball Again
21:42 - Indoor Volleyball Wasn’t for Me Anymore
23:39 - Student at Stanford
25:13 - Winter 2015 Brought Ruminating Thoughts & Depression
28:04 - Did You Think to Reach Out?
29:13 - Improvement Suggestions to Mental Health Assistance
32:32 - BB Commercial
32:40 - Sports & Mental Health
34:07 - Going Home Again & Building Confidence
36:38 - Describe Being Home
38:49 - “Junior” Year 2016 & Frat Life
41:36 - Bipolar Episode 2 Weeks into Winter Quarter
43:50 - More About the Manic Episode
45:31 - Relating to People in a Manic State
47:07 - This Depressive Period Lasted Months & Using Weed
50:18 - Having Suicidal Thoughts & Communicating with Parents
54:34 - Transformation After Diagnosis
59:17 - Consequences from Taking Medications & Beach Volleyball
1:01:24 - Seeing the Bigger Picture
1:04:01 - One Piece of Advice
1:05:55 - Where Can People Find You?
1:07:05 - Thank You
1:08:00 - WIMTS Podcast Closing
Links & Where to Find Cole -
IG - @cole_fiers
