I'm not a doctor. I'm just a guy who has this disorder. I've had it since I was 21 (diagnosed anyways) when I first showed my high (a state of mind where you believe illogical things, can't sleep, etc).
That being said, if you believe you have these symptoms, please contact a health professional immediately.
Story below:
Bipolar Disorder
One Man’s Journey Through the
Trenches
By Michael Kelly
It’s hard to
explain how I got to this point. I
remember the beginning of my story, but the pieces are fragmented… like water
seeping from a paper cup.
There have
been many things that led me to the man I am today.
My family…
my friends… and one person in particular.
My daughter.
Through her
eyes, through her actions… I’ve seen that the last thing I’d want is to see her
follow in my footsteps.
It kept me
from suicide. It kept me on my
meds. It kept me healthy… strong…
capable… and today, it’s the reason I’m writing this book.
I love
everyone that’s played a role in making me the man I am today… but in the end,
I owe Lily my life.
This book is
for you sweetheart.
Love,
Dad
Chapter 1
Realizing
You Have The Disorder
There are
many ways to recognize this disorder, but in the end only a doctor can diagnose
it. This may be a difficult truth to
face as in my case, I liked to do everything by myself. I had to put my trust into the hands of a
stranger, and I hated that idea.
My family
was behind me through it all. Their
strength and wisdom pushed me into door of the doctor for the first time.
Don’t ever
forget… family is family… and they will be there… through the good times and
the bad.
Chapter2
The
Importance of Meds
I can’t
stress this enough… some of us have deficiencies and medication is an
important/vital/mandatory part of dealing with the many stressors that come
with being Bipolar.
Chapter 3
What Makes
YOU An Authority?
Life
experience… I’ve been Bipolar for four years and thanks to the SSDI I receive,
my family being close, and all the time spent with my daughter… I was lucky to
realize what I stood to lose… as well as what I wanted out of life.
What do I
want?
To
write. To educate. To be the voice I’ve always felt I needed to
be.
I want to
help people in my situation so that the worst doesn’t happen…
Chapter 4
Dedication
Page
I dedicate
this book to my doctors, my friends, my family, and everyone else who helped me
reach this point of englightenment.
Thank you for everything you guys… if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be
the man I am today.
Chapter 5
Keeping Your
Thoughts Organized
You may find
yourself on a low finding apathy as a crutch.
Do whatever you need to get back to neutral. You are no good to your family if you’re too
low…
…and the
same goes for being too high.
A high may
feel great. You feel driven…
accomplished… you feel you can take on the world.
The problem
isn’t what you wish to attain during a high.
The problem lies in how dangerous you are, to yourself and others, while
in one.
I don’t mean
to say “You’re gonna hurt people!”
Not
physically anyways.
It’s up to a
doctor to help you with your new diagnosis.
He’ll make the decisions necessary to get you to a neutral state. Trust him… he’s there for one reason and one
reason only…
He’s there
for you.
Chapter 6
How To Cope
If You Are On The Wrong Meds
This is a
decision the people closest to you will need to make, at least in the
beginning.
It won’t
take you long to realize… wait a minute… I’m too high… I’m too low… I’m too
sensitive… I’m too hot… too cold… blah blah blah.
The first
thing you need to do is get to a hospital and tell your doctor. He’ll help guide you into a better med
regiment.
Pretty soon
with his help, your input, and your family’s knowledge (something that grows
with yours), you will find the right combination.
I can’t
impart the importance of trust enough.
Focus,
interact, and find your own way.
M.C.K. 12.27.2011
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