Between the poles: Bipolar and me
Paul Illidge dove in deep to understand the term bi-polar, only to surface feeling more confused. It was a psychiatrist using the metaphor of being between two poles, and insight from reading about Orson Welles (who also experienced bi-polar), that led him to conclude what bi-polar means for him.
The ninety-percent solution
Paul Illidge shares how his entire relationship with depression is based on lived experience, on what has happened to him and how he’s dealt with it, or put off dealing with it, which has more often been the case.
Addiction, recovery, helping others and it Starts With Me
Mike Stroh medicated his anxiety, depression, and obsessiveness with drugs and alcohol for almost 20 years. It took a serious romantic relationship, and recognizing it needs to start with him, to begin his journey towards recovery.
Bipolar; a back-handed blessing
Neil Walton shares his experience when the stress of divorce, job redundancy, and the death of his father landed him in hospital and later with a diagnosis of Bipolar. The following years would result in job loss after job loss, mental break-downs, being sectioned four times, admitted to three different hospitals, and being arrested twice. But medication and therapy didn’t come close to the healing that resulted when an Occupational Therapist believed in him and supported what he thought might be possible for him.
Living with OCD; obsession, compulsion & the battle with the hair straightener
Jenn writes a compelling narrative of the obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions that invade as she struggles to leave the house with her hair straightener still hot. Now 2 years later, she shares that saying “I need help” was the first step towards her recovery with OCD.