Kassidi Bishop Chat Wrap

Jan. 4, 2001

Kassidi Bishop at 3:32pm ET
I am glad that I could have helped anyone with the illness or anyone who is willing to become more educated about bipolar! Let's chat.

Donnie from [152.163.213.197], at 3:34pm ET
What is the name of the suppliments that you are using and their availability? Are you on medication now?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:36pm ET
I am on no medication prescribed by psychiatrist. I am currently taking a mineral supplement called E.M. Power. Anyone who is interested in getting more info on this treatment can visit the website, www.mindrestore.com. If they want to talk to someone personally, they can call (303)794-5672 and that will help expediate getting them information as well as signing up anyone who is interested.

Phil from [152.163.204.193], at 3:37pm ET
I wanna know how do you cope with the disease?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:39pm ET
Coping with the disease takes 2 things, Stabilization through mineral or medication treatment and a strong support network surrounding you. Fortunately, I have a very positive and supportive family to help get me through the hard times. One thing that I have found key, is to make sure that I get enough sleep every night and limit my alcohol intake.

Andy from [64.12.104.23], at 3:39pm ET
Does an event normally trigger major mood swings, or do they come at random?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:40pm ET
They come at random, but outside influences can cause an episode. i.e. too much stress, not enough sleep. Even altitude can be a factor.

Lynn from [208.29.117.179], at 3:40pm ET
does counseling help? How do they diagnos you with bipolar?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:42pm ET
Yes, counseling is very beneficial. I think its always good to have someone whom you can talk to to help you deal with the ups and downs in your life. Diagnosing Bipolar is extremely difficult, but unfortunately, medical experts do not have a specific test to diagnose it. At this point, its very trial and error and one must work with a doctor for a long period of time in order for the episodes to be recognized and properly diagnosed.

LadyCard fan from [136.165.36.240], at 3:43pm ET
How did you first get your story out? And were you okay about telling it?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:46pm ET
My story first went public early in the fall of 2000, in a local, Louisville paper, The Courier-Journal. My appeal was still in the process with the NCAA and I had hoped that telling my story publicly would 1- help the others out there with bipolar and 2- possibly help to gain positive recognition with the NCAA. At first, I was nervous, because I did not know how people would respond. Unfortunately, there is a large amount of stigma towards people with mental illnesses and I wasn't sure if people would look down upon me for being bipolar. But in the end, I realized that by telling my story, I would help people in such a positive way to help them understand about mental illness, that it outweighed all of the negative.

Andy from [64.12.104.23], at 3:47pm ET
What are some of the latest and most promising medications?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:49pm ET
First of all. I have not been on medication for over a year. The medication that helped to positively stabillize me were lithium and wellbutrin. However, as postive as the results were with the medications, they do not even come close to the normalizing feeling I have on the mineral treatment.

Kit Smoker from [64.12.105.41], at 3:49pm ET
How have your new teamates reacted to your situation?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:50pm ET
Hi Kit! Miss ya! My teammates have been incredibly supportive. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls surrounding me. They have been very willing to learn about the illness and very interested in learning what they can do to help me in the event of an episode.

becca from [216.126.174.103], at 3:51pm ET
Sometimes even when you are on meds, moods swings can't be controled. How do you cope then?

Kassidi Bishop at 3:54pm ET
That's a good point. While I was on the meds, I did have episodes, that could not be controlled. While on the minerals, my episodes have been far less extreme. The best thing to do in order to cope is to recognize the situation and inform your support network that you are going into an episode so that they can help give you the support and treatment you need. I personally increase my sleep and usually have to take a day or two off from everyday events in order to recoup from an episode. Unfortunately, bi-polar does not have a cure. Thus no matter what treatment one is being given, one must always be aware of their surroundings and help to create an environment for themselves that will not create an episode, to the best of their ability.

Ben Parker (Littleton,CO) from [63.23.193.85], at 3:55pm ET
Exactly what is bipolar disease, and how does it effect you?

Kassidi Bishop at 4:00pm ET
Bipolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Its genetic. There are, I believe, 4 different types of bipolar. I personally am a "rapid-cycler", which means that I can have an episode of depression of the worst kind one day, and the next day go into a manic episode and live in complete euphoria. At the worst point during my depression, I was suicidal, felt hopeless and stayed in bed for 2 weeks straight. I constantly cried and didn't know why. During my worst manic episode, I went for 9 days without sleeping and would do odd things such as washing and rewashing laundry 3 and 4 times in a day. One of the key signs that I personally am in a manic episode is my speech pattern, for I talk very rapidly and do not feel the need or desire to sleep.

Brian from [216.254.73.131], at 4:01pm ET
I would like to thank you for being so inspiring and I hope that you do one day achieve your dreams. Good luck!

Kassidi Bishop at 4:01pm ET
Thank you so much! It is the people like you that I have helped to give me the opportunity and confidence to walk the road towards my dreams.

Tim from [205.188.195.32], at 4:02pm ET
Are the Lady Cards going to be good this year?

Kassidi Bishop at 4:04pm ET
Right now, we are at 500 and play our second game of our conference season tommorrow night against South Florida. Our team is very young and it has taken some time to help to quickly mature our incoming freshman. We are all working very hard and feel we have a good shot at competing for the conference championship.

Lynn from [208.29.117.179], at 4:05pm ET
How does bipolar affect your relationships. as far as establishing a relationship with a male?

Kassidi Bishop at 4:08pm ET
It takes a special kind of person to understand and love a person suffering from Bi-polar disorder. The number one, key characteristic must be patience. I, personally, have had relationships in the past where I was not healthy enough to recognize the negatives within the situation. I hope that in the future, I will find a guy who is understanding, educated and accepting of the fact that I suffer from a mental illness that does impact my life, but who is willing to go through the ups and downs by my side.

Yolanda from [38.192.203.40], at 4:09pm ET
In what way does your disease effect the way you play in games?

Kassidi Bishop at 4:12pm ET
The one thing throughout the years of suffering from Bipolar that has remained constant is my stubborness and being hard-headed. Being competitive goes hand and hand with both of those tendencies. It has been 6 years since the last time I competed in a full season of basketball, however, as the days go on, I see myself competing just as well as I did before my first episode. Therefore, it may be too early to say, but my bipolar has not yet affected me on the court.

Kassidi Bishop at 4:16pm ET
I would like to thank all of you in participating in this chat with me. I hope that I could be somewhat of a help in the education of mental illness. If anyone is interested in learning more about my treatment through minerals, I urge you to visit the website at www.mindrestore.com and or call (303)794-5672.

I also am willing to help answer any questions that any of you have regarding my story, my treatment, or bipolar in general. Please understand that I will get back to you as soon as possible due to the fact that I am busy with school and basketball. However, please feel free to email me at
wheels_bishop@msn.com.

Thank you all! God Bless!

University of Louisville Athletics

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