From breakdown to breakthrough. When Shak took the stage at The ONE National Conference, it wasn’t to perform—it was to be real. In front of fellow CPAs, he spoke openly about living with bipolar disorder while chasing partnership, what broke him down, and what helped him rebuild. This is a story about pressure, stigma, and the power of sharing it out loud.

Men’s mental health deserves more than a hashtag. As someone living with bipolar disorder, I’ve seen what silence can do—and what vulnerability can heal. Let’s talk about it, for real.

Growing up, I struggled with societal expectations of masculinity. In this chapter, I explore how toxic masculinity shaped my mental health journey—and how I broke free from it.

Thriving in the corporate world with Bipolar Disorder had its challenges. This chapter explores my journey balancing ambition, mental health, and success.

Empathy changed the way I see mental health. This chapter reflects on the power of understanding and how it can reshape the conversation around Bipolar Disorder.