HEY, I’M AF GARCIA...
I’m AF Garcia — a Psychology graduate, digital marketer, and writer who knows firsthand what it means to balance ambition with bipolar disorder.
I write under my pen name, AF Garcia. Choosing a pen name gives me the privacy to separate my personal identity from my advocacy work. For professionals with bipolar disorder, privacy is not just a preference — it’s often a lifeline. By using a pen name, I can share strategies and lessons openly, while respecting the same boundary many of my readers want to protect for themselves.
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 18. The years that followed were full of trial and error, switching medications, and wondering if I’d ever get back to my old self. It took nearly a decade, but I finally found stability — and with it, the drive to rebuild my life and career.
After graduating with a BA in Psychology from one of the country’s top universities, I returned home to help on the family farm. Soon after, I moved into the corporate world, working in administration and HR. I earned my Civil Service Professional eligibility, became a licensed Real Estate Appraiser, and spent six years employed in government service. But even with those achievements, something felt unfinished — my growth had stalled.
So, I pivoted. I trained in digital marketing and found new opportunities in the remote work world. But this is where my toughest battle began — the constant question of “Should I disclose my bipolar disorder to my clients?” Every time I switched roles or took on a new client, the question came back. Each experience taught me lessons about what to say, what not to say, and how to protect both my health and my professional reputation.
Alongside this career, I began writing eBooks, distilling the lessons I had learned from both my professional path and my journey with bipolar disorder.
That’s why I started The High-Functioning Bipolar: to help ambitious professionals like you navigate one of the hardest questions in the workplace — Should I tell my boss about my bipolar disorder?
For years, I wrestled with disclosure and battled burnout. I learned that disclosure isn’t about confession — it’s about strategy. My mission is to share frameworks, scripts, and tools that allow you to protect your career while also protecting your health.
Here, you’ll find strategies on:
How to decide if, when, and how to disclose at work
Practical ways to prevent burnout before it derails your career
Tools for balancing ambition with stability and self-care
I want you to leave this page feeling inspired, supported, and relieved — knowing you don’t have to walk this tightrope alone.
Start here: Download my free Smart Disclosure Checklist — 10 essential questions to ask before opening up about bipolar disorder at work. It’s the resource I wish I had years ago.
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