Not Crazy, Just Medicated: Afzan's Journey from Hidden Struggle to Bold Advocacy
- Andrea Zsapka
- May 15
- 3 min read
Story Nr 5/365/2025
What if the diagnosis you feared most became the key to unlocking your greatest purpose? This week, we gather Around the Fire to share a glimpse of Afzan's remarkable transformation—a story that shows how embracing our "different" can become our superpower.
Sometimes our greatest strengths emerge not despite our struggles, but because of them. Afzan's journey from secretly battling bipolar disorder to becoming a mental health entrepreneur offers us just a taste of what's possible when we stop hiding and start healing—out loud.
The Rollercoaster You Didn't Know You Were Riding
For 38 years, Afzan lived on an emotional rollercoaster without realizing she was even buckled in. From childhood trauma through academic extremes—nearly failing her architecture diploma during depressive episodes, then making the Dean's List during hypomanic phases—she experienced life in emotional extremes that seemed "normal" to her.
The hidden struggle was real: intense highs, devastating lows, and the exhausting work of appearing "normal" while her inner world felt anything but. Then came the breakup that changed everything...
When the Bottom Fell Out
A devastating relationship ending with a forced marriage situation triggered Afzan's worst depressive episode yet. The pain was so intense she couldn't even open her front door to meet friends—her hand would freeze on the doorknob, her body shaking uncontrollably.
But it was in this moment of complete breakdown that something unexpected happened. What Afzan discovered about the nature of pain versus the nature of living would reshape not just her recovery, but her entire life's purpose...
From Patient to Partner
The transformation that followed took Afzan from psychiatric patient to YouTube host, from hiding her diagnosis to celebrating it with humor and hope. She launched "Babanology," interviewing others about their mental health journeys.
But the most surprising discovery wasn't just about managing bipolar disorder—it was about how her unique wiring became her greatest business asset...
The Power of "I'm Not Crazy, I'm Medicated"
Afzan's story—which you'll get to read in full in our October book release—reveals powerful wisdom about:
How proper diagnosis can be liberation, not limitation
Why "different" brain wiring can become entrepreneurial advantage
The business value of authentic vulnerability and humor
How sharing our stories breaks stigma one conversation at a time
Why recovery isn't linear—and that's perfectly okay
What aspect of yourself have you been hiding that might actually be your superpower? What "different" wiring might the world need to see more of?
Don't Miss What Comes Next
This is just one of 365 transformative stories we're gathering Around the Fire. Each contains wisdom that could unlock your next evolution—professionally, personally, or in service to others.
Sign up for our Around the Fire Tribe today to:
Receive notifications when new stories are published
Get early access to our implementation workbooks
Join our Monday wisdom implementation sessions
Be first to know when our complete book launches in October
Your own journey from hiding to healing might be exactly what someone else needs to see.
Join the Around the Fire Tribe now at https://www.globalempowermenthub.com/join and never miss a story that might transform your path.
P.S. Stay tuned for the upcoming "365 Empowering Stories" book launch in October 2025, featuring personal narratives to inspire your journey.
If you have an inspiring story of transformation, resilience, or empowerment, we'd love to hear from you! Send your story to us at https://forms.gle/qE13rcMjRsnk8Vji9
- your wisdom might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. 📖✨
Follow Afzan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afzanthestoryteller/
See you around the Fire
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