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Lessons from Losing My Mind | Andy Dunn | TED

Neurodiversity and innovation often go hand in hand, but does that mean visionary entrepreneurs get a free pass to say and do anything they want? Bonobos founder and mental health advocate Andy Dunn shares his experience navigating bipolar I in the midst of running a successful startup, offering lessons learned on his journey to wellness…

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Neurodiversity and innovation often go hand in hand, but does that mean visionary entrepreneurs get a free pass to say and do anything they want? Bonobos founder and mental health advocate Andy Dunn shares his experience navigating bipolar I in the midst of running a successful startup, offering lessons learned on his journey to wellness and steps to create a future where everyone is able to “dream crazy dreams” — while being held accountable.

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68 Comments

68 Comments

  1. Jose Corchete

    May 17, 2023 at 12:14 pm

    As someone with bipolar disorder, this entire talk resonates. Everything in it is what I want to say others about BPD.

    Thanks to TED ❤

  2. Jack

    May 17, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    So helpful 🙏🏾

  3. Phatxual

    May 17, 2023 at 12:19 pm

    Daaang, the courage/strength & inspiration is real with this vid. Thanks a lot!💯❤️‍🔥

  4. Jordan Diab

    May 17, 2023 at 12:40 pm

    Andy speaks so honestly and has made more public progress on this topic than anyone I can think of. I love the insight around mental illness and entrepreneurship, which rings so true…

    Keep up the great work!

  5. Scheena Farmer

    May 17, 2023 at 12:45 pm

    I never talked about this to anyone and they may say it’s not true cause I never heard of it. Their was no reason to share I I wanted and only hoped and wished for.

  6. Cyfriniol

    May 17, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    Excellent!

  7. Shark Doge

    May 17, 2023 at 12:58 pm

    You’re allowed to laugh at the jokes y’all 😑

  8. Scheena Farmer

    May 17, 2023 at 1:04 pm

    It feels good to hear other people’s life experiences and it show that we are all having to kind of illness and are trying to fix the world problems without fixing self. The American story sounds like Hitlers story, a story he writes as he go along but doesn’t seem to fix any mistakes which in the end show he messed up even when he didn’t say it because many were killed some lived to speak on their experiences. This is also a story that could be told from the inside of the womb on how creation start in the woman and what she has that is a copy of her man and dad before the blast off.

  9. Brenda LaRue

    May 17, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    How much anxiety and depression in working folks could be averted by requiring their managers to engage in weekly counseling? And a blanket rule, no a-holes allowed? Paradise! 🤩

  10. Oracle of the ScorpionMagdaleneDivine

    May 17, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    I love when I go mad. It’s the only time anything makes sense.

    • jdogsful

      May 17, 2023 at 1:54 pm

      you wont love it as much after youve destroyed your life..

    • Oracle of the ScorpionMagdaleneDivine

      May 17, 2023 at 2:00 pm

      @jdogsful I already did that.

    • jdogsful

      May 17, 2023 at 2:59 pm

      @Oracle of the ScorpionMagdaleneDivine lol. samesies.

  11. Oracle of the ScorpionMagdaleneDivine

    May 17, 2023 at 1:15 pm

    I personally just admitted I was in fact bipolar. I thought I could find another name for it but a rose by any. Other name still be just a rose.

  12. finmat95

    May 17, 2023 at 1:22 pm

    “We need to make mental health care fundamentally acceptable”
    * All applaud *
    “…actually and universally accessible”
    * stony silence *
    Aaaaaaaaaah americans at their peak of hypocrisy 🦅

  13. Marley Momo

    May 17, 2023 at 1:22 pm

    My god, this man is hilarious and moving at the same time. What he said is absolutely correct.

  14. X G

    May 17, 2023 at 1:30 pm

    Easily one of the best Teds available!

  15. jdogsful

    May 17, 2023 at 1:55 pm

    he still seems like an egomaniac

    • George Mirchev

      May 17, 2023 at 3:31 pm

      True, but he seems to do more good than harm so it’s ok.

  16. Azmuthsecond

    May 17, 2023 at 2:08 pm

    This is exactly what it’s like to have bi polar 1.. people need to know. I stick to myself and live off disability for a reason. I still haven’t had the courage to relive my manic episodes with anyone.

  17. Formula Motorsports

    May 17, 2023 at 2:12 pm

    An amazing person with an amazing family and friends. You have courage!

  18. Maribelle Lebre

    May 17, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    “Assholes should straight up not be accommodated”.
    YES!!!!

  19. FRANCESCA MARCIANO

    May 17, 2023 at 3:20 pm

    This is an amazing Ted talk that I was looking forward to hear. Your Ted talk highlighted meaningful points, “Every strength does have a shadow”. People seldom talk or acknowledge this. Love your ideas about the workplace. After working for 32 years I agree with your ideas on it especially for Team Leaders. Your book “Burn Rate” has been one of my favorite reads to this date. Your efforts on de stigmatizing mental health disorders is refreshing and we take note this this disorder fueled your wildly successful business venture. It is good to hear out loud blatantly your statement “that all brains do work differently”. (I suspect it is based on individual genetics/diet/daily habits/hormonal shifts.) This will be explored by doctors/scientists for years to come. You are indeed extremely blessed that you have all this access and are on your path to optimum living. Cant wait to see what your going to do next or explore next.

  20. The Edge

    May 17, 2023 at 5:39 pm

    THE U.S IS WEAK

  21. azumanguy

    May 17, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    This was a powerful talk

  22. Nothing Really Matters

    May 17, 2023 at 6:32 pm

    Thank you. I’m going to stop saying “I’m bipolar” and say “I have bipolar”.
    You are fortunate to have all that support. I built up a successful company built but then lost everything after a manic episode. My company, my home and all my possessions including beautiful things I’d collected throughout my life as I could not even afford storage.
    Instead of helping me when I got sick, people took advantage of me and defrauded me. I have never recovered and never will.
    I wish I had the courage to end my life.
    Even those few friends that stood by me, I pushed away eventually as I was so ashamed of my fall from success to poverty and homelessness.
    I never hit a partner and would never harm anyone and it is important to note that most bipolar people only hurt themselves. I hurt myself through addiction and now realise I was “self-medicating” to cope after losing everything and with feelings of isolation and suicidal thoughts.
    I am no longer homeless and have a small but nice and safe place to live. I’m no longer an addict. But I don’t speak to anyone anymore and avoid people. I’ve never known real human kindness only people who wanted to use me.
    Lastly, my own son who suffers from the same condition took his own life. I blame myself as he inherited it from me. He had two half-siblings and they didn’t suffer. After that, why continue. I have no one, nothing and am just a drain of humanity. I’m basically already dead.
    Suicide should be legal and supported by the state if you are mentally ill as I am and cannot be fixed. I know this will get backlash but why should I just suffer?

    • Susan Stardust

      May 17, 2023 at 7:13 pm

      You won’t get backlash from me. I just want to send you a hug.
      Your life story resonated with me, bar losing your son. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve just lost my brother (in our 40s) and I feel your pain and despair.
      I realise you have lost faith in humanity and I did too. I’m petrified of people and generally avoid society.
      But I’ve pushed myself to connect with safe opportinities (church, art therapy groups) and have found some decent people. People who listen without prejudice, people who care. I’m starting to trust again.
      I’ve known little more than a life of abuse and mistreatment. But lucky to have a few good friends but they can’t be there 24/7. CPTSD and BPD diagnosed. Trying to raise my son as a single mum.
      I struggle every single day.
      Less amplified since I reached out to people again. Yes there’s been disasters, but also rays of light.
      Please don’t suffer.
      Please reach out.
      Pick up the phone to organisations that support mental health issues. They are there to listen to you without judgement.
      I’m in the UK, there are many helplines. I hope wherever you are, there is similar support.
      Sending you love and light 💞🌟
      I wish you the best, please take care x

    • Nothing Really Matters

      May 17, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      @Susan Stardust – Hello. I’m also in the UK.
      I’m really sorry to hear that you have suffered at the hands of others. I edited my post to reflect the fact that most people with bipolar don’t physically assault their partners as I don’t want people watching this and thinking we are abusive.
      I didn’t say anything in my first comment as I didn’t want to come off as judgemental about him but for me violence other than self-defence is abhorrent. I’d never hit a partner. I understand he was going through a delusional state. I dated a bipolar woman I met through support groups and she attempted suicide before I met her thinking she needed to do it to save the world, so I understand how bad it gets for many.
      I went to get help and the bloody councillor mocked me for talking too much after that I never returned. I got so hyper about going to them I was having a mini-episode in the meeting. I told them that and he still rolled his eyes and laughed at me.
      He phones and apologised but WTF. He knew I’d stopped seeing people at all during the pandemic and never reintroduced to society. I’m basically retired on a pension but only in my early 50s. I also receive mental health benefits and housing to top this up. So I now get by OK.
      Sorry waffling.
      I don’t know what you went through but I experienced abuse. I was abused as a child. I went to a Catholic boarding school and the obvious happened with a priest. My parents found out and after this, I and my brothers and sisters were raised atheists. So I understand faith helps some people but for me, it is just another brick in the wall. My mother was also abused by the church and so she took it hard after several of her kids were. She put us in the exact same environment that she was in and the same thing happened.
      So I see religion as a scam. They live in palaces and stately homes while the poor were kept as peasants working in their fields. No disrespect but I am just explaining why I cannot seek help in these places. The church used to kill hundreds of single women in Scotland just because they wanted to stay out of marriage to keep their independence. It is estimated 2600 were killed as “witches” but that was what they were really doing. Then the church took their land.
      Sorry super waffling but I never talk to anyone.
      I am glad you are getting help and support.
      My son was a lovely person. I wrote more in my edited comment saying gI blame myself as I am the one whose family it runs in. He had half-siblings and they didn’t go through any of it. He lived with his mum and stepfather and only he had this curse.
      I worked in the creative world. It’s common in creative people.
      Sorry for going on but really at a crossroads. I feel I have to do something or end things. I was devastated after waiting years for government-funded therapy and support only for it to all go wrong before it started.
      I know I should “reach out” but reaching out always goes wrong and makes me feel worse about myself.
      Sorry you don’t need to read all this and respond. Sorry to bother you.

    • Nothing Really Matters

      May 17, 2023 at 9:25 pm

      @Susan Stardust – I’m very sorry about your brother. I should have said that clearly.
      Losing people is hard. Thank you for responding. Take good care of yourself.

  23. Diandy D

    May 17, 2023 at 7:19 pm

    We need more honesty in this world, too many lies just to have bigger pockets

  24. eldiaz

    May 17, 2023 at 9:07 pm

    Wow! Such an amazing TED talk! I was crying through most of it because I can completely relate, however my manic episode was caused by medication not helped by it. Almost 2 years ago I started getting sudden headaches and found out I had developed a brain tumor. After surgery I had a reaction to the steroids which reduced the swelling. That earned me another stay in the hospital so they could safely reduce my medication but I also experienced the “most acute case of steroid-induced schizophrenia” that my physician has ever seen. I feel lucky to have survived it all but also a deep sense of sadness for all that my family had to endure all of that. I understand that I wasn’t well and couldn’t control my actions but it’s difficult to describe. Overall my experience made me so grateful for life and those around me. Life is so precious. If only everyone had the chance to experience excellent health care, that’s one of the things that’s so sad about living in the US. 😔

  25. glen holman

    May 17, 2023 at 9:27 pm

    Meds have never worked for me however I have found a miracle with micro dosing recently. Working wonders in my life

  26. Hearty

    May 17, 2023 at 11:19 pm

    The most amazing speech about such topic I’ve listened to so far. 🎉

  27. New Sheep

    May 17, 2023 at 11:36 pm

    Pretty sure ppl were supposed to laugh after his Burger King line

  28. Nicogs

    May 18, 2023 at 1:37 am

    One of the best ted talks imo

  29. Setelah Pamer

    May 18, 2023 at 1:51 am

    Saya kagum dengan kejujuran dan ketulusan Andy Dunn dalam berbagi ceritanya. Saya berharap video ceramah ini dapat meningkatkan kesadaran dan mengurangi stigma tentang kesehatan mental di komunitas bisnis dan masyarakat luas. Saya juga berharap video ceramah ini dapat memberi harapan dan motivasi bagi orang-orang yang mengalami gangguan bipolar atau masalah kesehatan mental lainnya. Saya rasa kita semua bisa belajar sesuatu dari pengalaman Andy Dunn.

  30. Addison Draper

    May 18, 2023 at 3:38 am

    don’t be a dummy. the reason we don’t say someone “is cancer” is that having cancer doesn’t change your personality or how you interact socially. with everyone around you. Having bipolar syndrome fundamentally changes the way you interact with other people and it affects your behavior and your actions that’s why people think of someone as being bipolar and people don’t think of someone as “being cancer”.You’re just another spoiled white boy from the northern suburbs of Chicago who might belong in a John Hughes film but not on a TED stage (except that mental healthcare is trending right now, so here we are). I noticed that you didn’t mention why you decided to call your company “Bonobos”…it might just be the most interesting part of your story.

  31. Tiago Severo

    May 18, 2023 at 4:34 am

    That was corageous

  32. Underground School

    May 18, 2023 at 4:44 am

    Well spoken man but too “gay” for my likability. Also suspiciously proud of being on so many drugs

  33. Helal Ahmed

    May 18, 2023 at 5:12 am

    Sound problem 🙂

  34. Carolyn F. Terry

    May 18, 2023 at 5:20 am

    I’m favoured, $230k every 4weeks! I can afford anything and also support God’s work and the church

    • Heartland Nathan

      May 18, 2023 at 5:38 am

      I know her though I’m a doctor, I don’t have much time for trading. She manages my investment and has made a lot of profits for me, can now boost I make $38,400 weekly. A friend of mine I referred to her just received $22,000 profits after few days of investing with her..

    • Mrs.George

      May 18, 2023 at 5:39 am

      Awesome, I also trade with Paula Mary Allen analysis and guidance, she’s perfect with Crypto trading that I’ve got upto 57K monthly returns…

    • Mrs.George

      May 18, 2023 at 5:39 am

      Most people do not know that trading is the best step to growing more income. I realized this after I came across Mrs Paula Mary Allen.

    • Anna K. Slone

      May 18, 2023 at 6:29 am

      This woman has really changed the life of many people from different countries and I’m a testimony of her trading platform.

    • Sharon Buckman

      May 18, 2023 at 6:29 am

      Amen! I had a dream recently while praying for Israel that a women ran out of her home in a village shouting “Yeshua is the Messiah!”. She went from house to house banging on doors and other women followed her. The Lord Yeshua showed me this was what happened when Mary and Martha went to the 12 after his resurrection. The testimony of these women in my dream spread throughout all of Israel.

  35. AW C

    May 18, 2023 at 8:58 am

    Artists, scientists… the outliers, the fringe.
    Psychopaths are also misrepresented as our leaders in business and gov. So, not unexpected.

  36. 小魚

    May 18, 2023 at 11:03 am

    If you are in a high risk management system, it will beter you feel stressed, because you have normal feeling to the environment,i dont think it is always healthy to be strong….. How a worse and fantastic value in your social

  37. A B

    May 18, 2023 at 11:22 am

    Almost lost me at seeing a therapist 2 times a week. Who can afford that?

    Glad he made it the main point by the end. Fact of the matter is, even if people recognize the solutions, often times we can’t afford or don’t have access to them.

    • TeggyEgg

      May 18, 2023 at 3:27 pm

      *psychiatrist…which would be even more expensive than a therapist.

    • A B

      May 19, 2023 at 2:34 am

      @TeggyEgg Thanks for pointing that out, yes that makes it even more poignant

    • Eun-Hye Brown

      May 20, 2023 at 11:42 am

      I believe his ending speech he talks about wanting to see mental health becoming more affordable and assesible.

    • A B

      May 20, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      @Eun-Hye Brown I agree👍

  38. oo oxygen

    May 18, 2023 at 12:49 pm

    he actually wants us to be mentally unfit and crazy, so they can push drugs on everyone

  39. Words and Pictures

    May 18, 2023 at 2:25 pm

    Andy, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS!!!

  40. Erik Syring

    May 18, 2023 at 6:19 pm

    No professional therapist needed, you just have to live in/create a tribe.

  41. Grant Huhn

    May 19, 2023 at 12:00 am

    Wonderful talk, Andy. Thank you.

  42. circleoflife

    May 19, 2023 at 2:40 am

    It’s brave of him to go public with his private health issue. Just hope he can get to the root cause of his symptoms with the help of a responsible physician – if it’s physical or relational or a combination, and find a drug-free way to improve his condition. He looks like a genuine kind-hearted soul judging by the way he talked about his interaction with his would-be-mother-in-law. Best wishes to him and his family.

    • SpaQueenRocks

      May 19, 2023 at 5:53 pm

      Drugs don’t need to be villainized. Brain chemistry is complicated and some make a legitimate difference.

  43. FauxVier

    May 19, 2023 at 3:17 am

    Dude’s rock

  44. Csilla Molnár

    May 19, 2023 at 3:24 am

    I just hope that there are some jobs out there to earn a basic income and stay sane (or if you prefer to say: not get any mental illnesses).

  45. Benjamin Jarvis

    May 19, 2023 at 8:25 am

  46. MC K

    May 19, 2023 at 8:37 am

    There is a lot of wisdom from people’s bi-polar episodes… we need to start harvesting insights….bi-polar is simply the brain not being able to group thoughts into patterns… nothing big or serious…

  47. Lisa Abramson

    May 20, 2023 at 12:28 am

    Great talk! Congrats Andy, this talk will undoubtedly lead to positive change. Well done.

  48. OutThereSomewhere

    May 20, 2023 at 3:31 pm

    Well, i sure got a lot i could say on such a subject. My mind and everything that mattered to keep intact in my life, and i still haven’t completely bounced back. The memory is just too difficult.

  49. Baraz

    May 20, 2023 at 6:25 pm

    Totally agree with the part, near the end, about how we are not “illness x” or “trait x”. I worked in an alternative mental health drop-in centre when I was young. Folks with issues considered schizophrenic or psychotic kept identifying themselves with their diagnostic and presumed all their issues were related to it. So I often contradicted them, insisting that “You are [name], with all sorts of normal Human issue, and you have some that are labelled schizophrenic or within the broad category of psychotic issues”. The same applies to many other traits, mental problems, even our past actions, etc.

  50. Baraz

    May 20, 2023 at 6:25 pm

    Totally agree with the part, near the end, about how we are not “illness x” or “trait x”. I worked in an alternative mental health drop-in centre when I was young. Folks with issues considered schizophrenic or psychotic kept identifying themselves with their diagnostic and presumed all their issues were related to it. So I often contradicted them, insisting that “You are [name], with all sorts of normal Human issues, and you have some that are labelled schizophrenic or within the broad category of psychotic issues”. The same applies to many other traits, mental problems, even our past actions, etc.

  51. Roman Rac

    May 21, 2023 at 6:53 pm

    Great talk, thank you.

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