From Burnout to Breakthrough: My Journey Through Bipolar, Entrepreneurship & Empathy
When your career is accelerating, the last thing you expect is a full stop. In this conversation with Sim Gakhar at SG Wealth, I talk openly about the moment my partner-track dream collided with my first manic episode, the shame and confusion that followed, and the long work of rebuilding identity and health. This is the companion recap for those who prefer to read, pause, and take notes. 💜
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The moment everything changed
I was preparing to present my case for partnership. It should have been the happiest professional milestone of my life. Instead, I experienced my first manic episode. Hospitalisation and a leave followed. In hindsight, I wish I had taken even more time to understand what was happening to my mind and body.
Feelings Thermometer – Free Mental Health Check-In Tool
Redefining identity beyond a job title
For years, my identity was welded to the firm, the role, the next rung. Losing that felt like losing myself. Recovery asked different questions: Who am I when I’m not performing? What do I value when nobody is clapping? I slowly re-anchored in relationships, routine, and self-knowledge—not just outcomes.
What mania felt like from the inside
People often imagine mental illness showing up only as “lows.” My reality included euphoric states, grand ideas that felt world-changing, and a racing mind that could tip into paranoia or psychosis. Ambition and vision are normal in high-performing fields. The difference is regulation and realism. When the brakes are gone, even brilliant ideas can spiral.
Burnout and the “machine” praise
In law, accounting, consulting, and finance, pushing past basic human limits is too often normalised. I once took pride in the “machine” label. It won praise—and it cost me. Exhaustion isn’t excellence; it’s erosion. Burnout isn’t the whole story, but it’s a common doorway to crisis.
Why I built Bipolar Empath
I still serve clients through my advisory work. But my deepest work now lives at Bipolar Empath—a community and platform for candid conversation, stigma-breaking, and practical support. I’m completing my MA in Counselling Psychology and am qualifying as a Registered Psychotherapist. The mission is simple: help high-performance workplaces stay human without losing standards.
Note: I share tools rooted in lived experience and training. Everyone’s journey is different—take what helps and leave what doesn’t. If you’re struggling, consider speaking with a qualified professional.
Practical reflections for high-performers
☁︎ Build a circle of truth-tellers. A therapist, a mentor, a friend who notices patterns before you crash.
☁︎ Measure what matters. Not just compensation and titles—also sleep, mood stability, and connection.
☁︎ Normalise pauses. Strategic rest prevents breaks.
☁︎ Design humane systems. Leaders can protect excellence and energy at the same time.
A South Asian lens
Mental health can still be taboo in our community. Families sometimes “protect” loved ones by hiding what is hard, which can deepen isolation. My ask is simple: love openly, support without shame, and use the strength of community to reduce stigma—not reinforce it.
Money, meaning, and a sustainable life
As an entrepreneur, I became more intentional: planning for protection and retirement, keeping cash flow healthy, and protecting time for advocacy and training. Meaning first. The numbers follow.
What’s next
Five years into my advisory practice, I’m focused on expanding my mental-health work—speaking with firms, supporting Bay Street professionals, and finishing psychotherapy training. I’m also writing, honouring the wisdom my mother passed down.
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Crystal Ball Reflection
High performance without humanity is brittle. Build empathy into the system—your calendar, your team, your expectations—and excellence lasts longer.
With empathy,
Shak
Feel free to check out more blog posts or follow along on Instagram for lived insights, tools, and support.
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SHAK TODAY
Shak is pursuing his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) and will start his practicum in January. He's involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association and he's working on turning his blog, Bipolar Empath, into a book while managing his accounting business.
Stay tuned for more updates on Shak’s journey and the impact he continues to make in the mental health community!
