The words “bipolar disorder” used to be shrouded in mystery and fear. What was this strange condition that afflicted artists and poets, intellectuals and musicians? Kay Redfield Jamison, an award-winning clinical psychologist and writer who lives with bipolar disorder, wrote this about the condition in her 1996 book An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness:
Which of my feelings are real? Which of the me’s is me? The wild, impulsive, chaotic, energetic, and crazy one? Or the shy, withdrawn, desperate, suicidal, doomed, and tired one? Probably a bit of both, hopefully much that is neither.
If you live with bipolar disorder, or if you love someone who does, Jamison’s words probably feel all too familiar.
I love someone with bipolar disorder. My daughter Cassie, now in her 20s, exhibited the symptoms of mental illness from early childhood. When Cassie was 13, I wrote an essay entitled “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother” after the tragic elementary school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, where I described her unpredictable and sometimes violent behavior. Shortly after that essay went viral, Cassie was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, type 1.
For me and for Cassie, the diagnosis was actually a relief. Bipolar disorder was not a happy ending, but it was a path forward. Lithium worked brilliantly to curb her mood swings, and gradually, with careful sleep hygiene, regular exercise, talk therapy, occupational therapy, and of course, medication, Cassie was able to build a successful life for herself, returning to and graduating from a mainstream high school in 2018, then earning a scholarship to college where she completed an associate’s degree in behavioral science and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in creative writing with plans to earn a masters of fine arts.
Cassie and I were fortunate. We had the resources and the support to find the right diagnosis. We had good health insurance to afford her many therapies. Most important, when we shared our desperate story, we found a community of passionate advocates, all fighting for better treatments, more acceptance, and most of all, for hope.
Part of that community was the International Bipolar Foundation. I will always be grateful to Muffy Walker, one of the organization’s founders, who reached out to me after my viral blog and subsequent book, The Price of Silence: A Mom’s Perspective on Mental Illness. Muffy and her fellow founders began the organization around a kitchen table, as they shared their stories of trying—and often failing—to find the services their children needed.
Today, an important part of the International Bipolar Foundation’s mission is to make sure that individuals and families who are living with this condition know they are not alone. We have a robust support community on our Facebook page, where we engage with people from all around the world. Our website features the compelling stories of many powerful writers, some of whom are featured in this book.
We also work to provide information and resources to our communities. If you live with bipolar disorder or love someone who does, this book, Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder, is designed to help you understand bipolar disorder, its symptoms, treatments, and support organizations that can help you as you navigate this path. It is written by a variety of authors with lived or expert experiences. The chapters contain helpful information on several topics that arise in everyday life, as well as resources for dealing with specific issues facing those affected by this illness.
Although the book is written for an American audience, much of the material applies to those living in other countries and cultures. We want to provide current information and helpful resources to healthy living, while acknowledging the stigma and challenges of bipolar disorder. Note: This book is not intended to replace advice from a trained medical professional.
For additional resources please visit our website at www.ibpf.org or email us at info@ibpf.org.
In these pages, you’ll find clinical information from psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and others. But you’ll also find stories from real people who share how they survive and thrive with bipolar disorder. I hope that you will share your story with us someday. Together, we can build a world of hope.
About the author
Liza Long is the editor of this publication and has served as the International Bipolar Foundation Board Secretary since 2016. She is an author, community college English professor, and mother of four children, one of whom has bipolar disorder. Liza’s 2014 book, The Price of Silence: A Mom’s Perspective on Mental Illness won a “Books for a Better Life” award. She gave a TEDx talk in 2013 about the importance of erasing stigma for children’s mental health, and she has appeared in PBS’s Mind of a Rampage Killer (2013), HBO’s A Dangerous Son (2018), and American Tragedy (2020).
Liza Long is the editor of this publication and has served as the International Bipolar Foundation Board Secretary since 2016. She is an author, community college English professor, and mother of four children, one of whom has bipolar disorder. Liza’s 2014 book, The Price of Silence: A Mom’s Perspective on Mental Illness won a “Books for a Better Life” award. She gave a TEDx talk in 2013 about the importance of erasing stigma for children’s mental health, and she has appeared in PBS’s Mind of a Rampage Killer (2013), HBO’s A Dangerous Son (2018), and American Tragedy (2020).