Navigating Bipolar Disorder While Pursuing High Altitude Mountaineering Goals with Viv Serrano | See Her Outside Podcast
Follow on Spotify, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Listen on Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, other platforms
Viv Serrano is a mountaineer who progressed from local trails to the summits of Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Rainier, and Hood—and she's just getting started, currently training for Denali in the sharp, icy ridgelines of the Andes.
But what sets Viv apart as an athlete is her honesty. She navigates bipolar disorder, manages stabilizing medications, and still shows up for the kind of training that demands a lot from both mind and body. Viv is also committed to helping more women access adventure. She's worked with both the Summit Scholarship and the Cairn Project, helping others step into their own big outdoor goals and new landscapes.
Viv and Angie talk about:
Climbing Kilimanjaro on an all-women’s team as a Summit Scholarship recipient
Deciding to climb Aconcagua, then getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder while training
Why Viv almost quit mountaineering and the words that kept her going
Training modifications and medication considerations
What the outdoor community needs to talk about more: medication, therapy, and mental health acceptance
Supporting women by becoming a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project
Misconceptions about mood disorders
Read Viv’s blog post: 5 Things I Did to Train for Aconcagua as a Person Who Struggles with Mental Health Issues
Send this episode to a friend who loves real talk about mental health in outdoor adventure!
Follow on Spotify, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Listen on Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, other platforms
