Reality Over Myth-Part 1
Health/Wellness | Registration opens 1/5/2026 12:00 AM MST (Arizona)
This opening session explores the broader landscape of mental health—how brain chemistry, trauma, and temperament shape behavior long before addiction or diagnosis appear. Kate shares her own experience navigating emotional dysregulation, bipolar disorder, alcoholism and autism, revealing how misunderstanding mental health can lead to shame and useless advice like “just stop.” Participants will learn and share about the interplay between mood, medication, and self-awareness, and why recovery—of any kind—requires both scientific understanding and self-compassion.
Kate Mohler
Mohler, Kate - has taught English at Mesa Community College since 1995. She has served in various capacities over the years, including sustainability committee chair and Book Club Coordinator. Currently, she serves as President of Ability Maricopa, the District's advocacy group for employees and students with disabilities. Kate was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016 at the age of 48; she has been reading about and studying all types of mental illness since then to help educate herself and to create informative presentations for others. Kate believes that the stigma associated with mental illness can be reduced through candid conversation, education about major symptoms, and the sharing of personal experiences. In addition to studying and speaking on neurodiversity, Kate loves to travel, cook, and write. She grew up in Minnesota but has lived in Wisconsin, UP Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington State, and Alaska.