Content Warning: This episode discusses Bipolar Disorder (BPD), Manic Depressive Disorder, and hospitalization.
Eighteen-year-old skateboarding star Billy Rohan had been pulled over and decided the best way to demonstrate that he was sober and under control was to do a backflip off a car. The cop on the scene did not see this as a good sign and Billy ended up in a hospital for psychiatric treatment. His erratic behavior of manic highs and depressive lows ultimately resulted in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The episodes weren’t constant but they dogged him throughout his storied skateboarding career, derailing him into out of control periods. With the help of a tight-knit skateboard community, careful reading of his medication labels, and patient support from his sisters, Billy ultimately steered himself toward a more balanced life. Now he can spot the bipolar symptoms (his fiancee compares it to turning into the Hulk) and take steps to avoid danger.
