Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse, bipolar II disorder, hypomania, autism, and psychosis.
Frank is only 22 years old, still in college, but he has come a very long way in figuring out his mental health and has already done a lot of work in helping other people. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder, type II, and some intense education on the matter helped him understand why he had been prone to hypomanic episodes. It was during one of these episodes when Frank developed psychosis, believing he was actually a character he had seen on television, which might not make sense to some people but makes perfect sense when you’re in that state. With love and care and patience, Frank’s mom guided him to some treatment and toward some answers, including the discovery that he was on the autism spectrum. That discovery led his mom to understand that she was on the spectrum too.
Frank Cobbe is an ambassador for the NAMI Next Gen program. NAMI Next Gen is the young adult advisory group for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), composed of 12 young leaders working to improve youth and young adult mental health across the country.
Frank Cobbe on Instagram.
In This Family is presented by Nexus Family Healing, a national nonprofit mental health organization that restores hope for thousands of children and families. Learn more and listen at NexusFamilyHealing.org/podcast.