I Am By Temperament An Optimist, And

When People Are Suicidal, Their Thinking Is Paralyzed, Their Options Appear Spare Or Nonexistent, Their Mood Is Despairing, And Hopelessness Permeates Their Entire Mental Domain. The Future Cannot Be Separated From The Present, And The Present Is Painful Beyond Solace. ‘this Is My Last Experiment,’ Wrote A Young Chemist In His Suicide Note. ‘if There Is Any Eternal Torment Worse Than Mine I’ll Have To Be Shown.

Nature Is The First Tutor. No One Remains Untouched Or Unschooled By The Earth, Seasons, And Heavens.

But Then Back On Lithium And Rotating On The Planet At The Same Pace As Everyone Else, You Find Your Credit Is Decimated, Your Mortification Complete: Mania Is Not A Luxury One Can Easily Afford. It Is Devastating To Have The Illness And Aggravating To Have To Pay For Medications, Blood Tests, And Psychotherapy. They, At Least, Are Partially Deductible. But Money Spent While Manic Doesn't Fit Into The Internal Revenue Service Concept Of Medical Expense Or Business Loss. So After Mania, When Most Depressed, You're Given Excellent Reason To Be Even More So.

I Am A Huge Advocate Of Prescription Drugs Given Wisely And For The Right Reasons And The Right Diagnosis And Also Psychotherapy.

I Have Had Manic-depressive Illness, Also Known As Bipolar Disorder, Since I Was 18 Years Old. It Is An Illness That Ensures That Those Who Have It Will Experience A Frightening, Chaotic And Emotional Ride. It Is Not A Gentle Or Easy Disease.