Project summary

I've been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and recently I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Complex PTSD.

Being strongly involved in EA, I struggle with doing my work because of my condition. It shrinks my executive function and, honestly, brings me suicidal risk.

I've been in poverty my whole life, and financial stress affects me a lot. Therapy is costly, so funding is the only way I can afford it (my insurance doesn't cover it).

The golden standard in treating my illness is complex Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

It involves intensive, 6-month, basic psyche skills training in group therapy accompanied by individual therapy.

Group therapy consists of 6 modules - 4 sessions monthly - overall 24 sessions, paralleled by 24 sessions of individual therapy - 48 overall.

After ending 1 cycle of therapy, it'll be examined if I need more.

Usually, treatment to remission takes 6-12 to 18-24 months, so I may benefit from prolonging the grant.

Project goals

I've already done the first step - I talked to Ewelina Tur - an experienced therapist from EA, and she strongly recommended me complex DBT.

The main next step is to sign up for the therapy. Also, I can be accountable to elevate my chances and speed up my treatment.

It may have an impact on a very wide range, depending on my potential.

Usually, by reducing symptoms, patients with BPD flourish. I'd describe myself as at least in the 95th percentile by the parameter "ambitious" in EA.

I struggle with building EA Ukraine because of my sociophobia but nobody else does it.

I don't know how to prove it, but I see it apparent - my illness has been shrinking my potential for several last years. I would have probably been in the Ivy League if I hadn't been depressed and suicidal in high school - if I had received treatment.

I want to do research and build an academic/policy career.

Especially I want to apply myself to s-risks and AI Safety, but it's a huge topic with many pre-requirements, and I can't manage it without professional help - it overwhelms me.

My project's goal is to attenuate the most severe symptoms first, and then get to remission.

I will know the goal is achieved when I no longer met the diagnostic criteria for my condition.

The path to the impact of my project lies through unblocking and multiplying my potential. I had been an excellent and extremely promising student before my illness developed. I want to change it again. EA inspires me to finally do things.

If the therapy goes right, I will build EA Ukraine and dedicate my life to saving the future of humanity.

How will this funding be used?

48 sessions of DBT therapy over 6 months

What is your track record on similar projects?

Grant implies accountability, so I expect paying for therapy from a grant to be more effective since I'll have to be accountable for the spent money.

Speaking of "running projects of this kind", I was in therapy twice and can't say it was successful:

1st time was with an old-school psychiatrist I didn't choose who, as it seems, misdiagnosed me.

2nd time was with an inexperienced student, so it hasn't worked too.

Lately, I spoke to Ewelina Tur at the EAGx Warsaw, and after 2 sessions she gave me some recommendations and directed me to complex DBT.

I feel hope about therapy again.

For my "EA track record”, see my LinkedIn.

What other funding is this person or project getting?

I applied to EA funds, Open Phil funds, and Lightspeed Grants.

I don't think it's likely to get a grant for this, but it's only an intuition.

Without funding, I would limit my therapy to only one cycle, and probably to only group therapy. It would place me in an insecure financial position.