ADHD, Bipolar, and the 24-Hour Rule: Lessons From a Mental Hospital with Laura Greenberg Schiler
She went in scared and left with 10 life lessons—and a book. We unpack ADHD, bipolar, and the 24-hour rule.
In this episode, I sit down with Laura Greenberg Schiller, a former attorney, mom of three, and now author of Finding Flawless. Laura was diagnosed with bipolar at 39 and later with inattentive ADHD. Her time in a mental hospital didn’t break her—it gave her clarity, steadiness, and a simple rule that changed her relationships.
You’ll hear how Laura went from high-achieving lawyer to retired by choice, why inattentive ADHD shaped far more of her daily life than she realized, and the one boundary she uses to keep mood swings from running the show. We also talk about writing a deeply personal book without losing yourself in the process, and what people get wrong about psychiatric hospitals.
If you or someone you love is juggling ADHD, bipolar, or both, this conversation offers relief, perspective, and a few practical anchors you can start using today.
About the Guest
Laura Greenberg Schiller is a New Jersey-based former attorney turned author. Living with bipolar disorder and inattentive ADHD, she distills hard-won insights from her hospitalization into accessible lessons in her upcoming book, Finding Flawless.
Key Timestamps
0:02 – Why Laura’s “worst moment” became a turning point
2:20 – Bipolar at 39: the manic episode no one saw coming
6:11 – Six hours a day of therapy—and the career truth it revealed
10:41 – ADHD strengths: hyperfocus and writing a book in weeks
13:59 – The writing plan that actually worked
24:43 – Inattentive ADHD: the diagnosis that finally made sense
28:15 – ADHD + bipolar meds: risks, limits, and what helped
35:24 – The rule that saved her marriage (and daily peace)
39:56 – Mental hospital myths vs. reality
52:02 – Where to follow Laura and her book
Call to Action: If this episode helped you, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who needs a safe, honest conversation about neurodiversity. Subscribe for more real stories, practical strategies, and community.
Find Laura: Instagram Finding Flawless • Facebook: Laura Greenberg Schiller. Book: Finding Flawless (coming to Amazon).
Keywords: ADHD, bipolar disorder, inattentive ADHD, mental health, neurodiversity, coping strategies, writing process, psychiatric hospital, medication, parenting
#ADHD #BipolarDisorder #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #InsideTheAspergersStudios
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