Neuroscientist Recounts Harrowing Bipolar Mania Episode Mid-Flight

Diagnosis, relapse, and the long road to stability

—A Canadian neuroscientist recently shared her gripping account of surviving her first severe manic episode, aboard an airplane, shedding light on the unpredictable dangers of bipolar I disorder and the path to resilience.

Dr. Adrienne Benediktsson, an associate professor of biology at Mount Royal University, Calgary, specializes in studying astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells that support neuron function and may play a role in mood disorders.

Her personal battle with bipolar I began subtly during her undergraduate years at the University of Calgary, where she faced periods of depression that left her withdrawing from friends and struggling with classes.

At the time, she dismissed these as typical student stress, but they marked the early stages of the condition, which involves extreme mood swings from deep lows to intense highs.

Her crisis peaked in 2003 during her PhD studies at the University of Iowa. Long hours in the lab, coupled with sleep deprivation from experiments, fueled emerging manic symptoms.

Excitement built as she attended a specialized conference on astrocytes in Ventura, Calif. There, her behavior shifted dramatically: she became overly animated, interrupting sessions and laughing excessively, though colleagues attributed it to enthusiasm.

The mania escalated on her return trip. Driving to the airport, Benediktsson felt a surge of elation, convinced she was communicating with a higher power. In a delusional act, she stopped by the ocean and tossed her wedding ring into the waves, viewing it as a necessary break from personal ties to focus on science. At the airport, she confided plans to leave her husband, Gunnar, alarming those around her.

Aboard the flight from Chicago to Cedar Rapids, paranoia took hold. Believing the plane was transporting her to the afterlife, she demanded a lavish last meal and grew increasingly agitated. At 30,000 feet, she unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed toward the emergency exit, attempting to open the door. Passengers restrained her amid chaos until the plane landed safely. Police met her at the gate, and she was rushed to a hospital, where Gunnar provided crucial support.

Diagnosed with bipolar I after tests ruled out other causes, Benediktsson spent weeks in treatment, starting medications like lithium to stabilize her mood. She grappled with memory loss, doubting key life events, which her husband helped reconstruct through photos. A brief discharge led to a relapse triggered by a crowded event featuring former President Bill Clinton, where manic behaviors resurfaced, requiring readmission.

Today, Benediktsson manages her condition through strict sleep routines, medication, exercise, and a supportive network, including her family and peers in Calgary. She shifted her career to teaching to avoid erratic lab schedules that could disrupt her stability.

As an advocate with the CREST Bipolar Disorder Network, she uses her story to combat stigma, emphasizing that bipolar I, while challenging, allows for fulfilling lives with proper care.

Her experiences highlight the risks of untreated mania, such as impaired judgment in high-stakes situations, and underscore the need for better mental health resources. Benediktsson’s journey offers hope, showing how personal turmoil can fuel scientific insight and community support.

Sources:

Podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NQAT2MCBvk
Mount Royal University article: https://www.mtroyal.ca/AboutMountRoyal/MediaRoom/Stories/2025/09/when-the-brain-attacks-mru-neuroscientist-bipolar-disorder.htm
talkBD podcast page: https://talkbd.live/expert/adrienne-benediktsson/
Additional episode details: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-talkbd-bipolar-disorder-po-103249465/