“Forged by Fire: From Doctor to Patient to Life Warrior”

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deeply personal episode of Life Warriors, Teresa and Mary sit down with author, artist, and former physician Liz Casper, whose life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 54. Liz shares what it was like to go from treating patients to becoming a patient herself, including multiple psychiatric hospitalizations and the realization that experiencing mental health care from the other side of the locked doors was very different from anything she had understood as a doctor. Pasted text But Liz’s story didn’t stop there. Shortly after finally reaching a more stable place in her mental health journey, she was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer and faced cancer treatment during 2020. During chemotherapy, she experienced a near-death experience that she says profoundly changed the way she views life, spirituality, love, and why we are here. Pasted text Together, Liz, Teresa, and Mary have a candid conversation about mental illness, stigma, asking for help, surviving the darkest moments of life, and what it really means to be a Life Warrior. The conversation ultimately turns toward gratitude, compassion, faith, and choosing how we approach each new day. Liz shares how keeping a gratitude journal helped her through some of her darkest days—even when the only things she could write were “I woke up” and “I breathe air.” Pasted text Her Warrior Challenge encourages listeners to step outside their comfort zones, connect with people they might normally overlook, lead with compassion, and remember that another day of life is itself something worth being grateful for. lizcasper.com