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Blog Post Challenge 3: TED Radio Hour

I’m from Sevierville, TN which is around a 7-hour drive from Memphis. To keep myself from falling asleep or thinking the drive is never going to end, I download podcasts to listen to. I’ve listened to both seasons of Serial not stop. I was hooked. Unfortunately, there were only two seasons available last time I went home. So, I decided to download some of the NPR TED talk radio hours.

One of the radio hours that stuck with me was one titled, “How Do Stereotypes of Mental Health Affect Us”. Alix Generous, the guest speaker, has Asperger’s and had a troubling childhood with bullying and stereotyping.  “..it pin-holed me to that specific feeling that something's wrong with me because people are treating me this way.” At 8 years old Alix was misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. She became depressed. Finally, at the age 18, Alix was transferred to a treatment center where she received the treatment that she finally deserved. From there she went on to do amazing things. One of those things includes being the co-founder of a bio-tech company names AustismSees.


Alix’s story made me reflect on the stereotypes held against mental illness. I think we all can learn something from her. Words and actions can make someone believe things about themselves that aren’t true. Alix experienced this and was fortunate to learn and grow from it and do great things with her experiences.  

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