i love this book and i am always amazed at how much she can do with the problems she has had….she is such a inspiration and i couldnt agree wit this article ….. the medicine isnt so bad (thankfully)
and if you are brave enough, PT and friends work wonders! (God speaks to us in various ways….

I like the Jamison quotation because it summarizes in a few sentences, the benefits of both talk therapy and the use of medication.
Early on in my treatment, I read a few books that mirrored my experiencs, but after the initial chapters where the situations were laid out, there were the “how-to” chapters. I could never bear to read those. The steps seemed too hard and the exercises were written to force me to face all my fears. I couldn’t handle it alone. My therapist is a guide in the best sense. He doesn’t push an agenda, make me feel like a failure because I can’t yet do some of the work to be done. He is also someone to be accountable to, unlike the self-help books. He guides me in the direction he thinks is most important at any given time, but also is responsive and helpful when I am just not ready to move in a certain way.
Sometimes I think he is a broken record, but when I am ready, then all he has said repeatedly makes sense to me.

A good reminder of the difference between Jamison’s bipolar disorder, type I and my bipolar disorder, type II.
As she has courageously shared in her books, she DOES need to be persuaded to take medication because in her florid mania, she forgets her past depressions and feels invincible — that she can do anything. (Literally, if you’ve read her books.)
With bipolar disorder, type II, on the other hand, I desperately WANT to take my medication because I never feel that “top of the world” feeling. Hypomania (for me) only gets to obsessiveness, sleeplessness, irritation and agitation — hardly pleasurable. And my depressions are Acapulco cliff-dives.

I would like to know the differences in the different kinds of bi-polar. My son committed suicide may30,2007. He was diagnoised with bi-polar last aug.2006. The doctor didn’t tell me what kind of bi-polar he had. He was 22yrs. old. I do know he would get depressed alot and alot of anger that I think was built because his real dad really did not give hime the time of day until recently, now that he’s older. He was engaged and everything working positive for him. I just don’t understand why he did this. We where so close for mother and son relationship we talked on the phone everyday or he would come by on his way home from work. He had a great job in the oil field made enough money. It just so happened that day he committed suicide I did not get to talk to him I was so busy,it crossed my mind about 8p.m. that night to call him but I did not, and that’s when he hung himself.
I only wish I would of talked to him that day and maybe I would of sensed something was going on. Now his fiance said he talked about suicide a few years ago and she did not want to tell me because it might upset me. If you have any suggestions for me please help me I am seeing a doctor and taking effexor xr 225mg. and xanax 0.5 m.g. every 6 hours but that not really helping. He was my only son. I had to have a emergecy surgery when I was 30 years old so I could not have any more children I was so looking forward to becoming a grandmother but I guess that will not happen now. I had Casey at 18 years old I am now 40 years old married to a wonderful husband that helps me alot,but there’s still that emptyness in me. PLEASE HELP ME

Dear Shannon – As a mother of two sons, ages 22 and 19 years old, my heart breaks for you. I am so extremely sorry to hear of your loss. It is unfathomable to know the grief you are experiencing unless someone has also had the same tragedy; the loss of a child.
I won’t even say the cliches that people may try to use in this circumstance. To say that you couldn’t have prevented it, I’m sure does not allieviate any pain. I know without knowing you that you would have done anything, including taking his place, to have him alive. My heart aches for you. My prayer is that God protects your mind and heart and relieves some of the gut wrenching feelings you must be livint with every moment; along with the unanswered questions.
I won’t speak for him on what I think the depth of his pain was to have taken life into his own hands. Even with the outside circumstances as well in place as they were, and all of your love and support, he had to be feeling hopeless in his being.
Again, I am so very sorry for the cross you now bear in the passing of Casey. With sympathy and prayers, Nancy