I decided to dedicate my story to everyone; everyone who, like me, does not just suffer with bipolar disorder, and the trail of destruction it leaves behind in our own lives and the lives of those around us, but everyone who suffers with mental illness. I don't want any of you to feel as lonely as I have for most of my life. I'm also writing this for the family and friends that suffer with us; those who often carry on supporting us regardless.
<p>Bipolar and Me
By Maya
Hi. My name is Maya. I'm a 41year old single mum, a dental surgeon and owner of 2 successful
dental practices. I have Bipolar.
I started writing my story in 2014, after my 2nd suicide attempt. Originally, it was only as part of my
therapy, almost like vomiting when you feel sick to feel better afterwards, but then the more I wrote,
the more I wanted to write. I felt the need to find purpose in my suffering as a means of dealing
with it better. And that is why I decided to dedicate my story to everyone; everyone who, like me,
does not just suffer with bipolar disorder, and the trail of destruction it leaves behind in our own
lives and the lives of those around us, but everyone who suffers with mental illness. I don't want
any of you to feel as lonely as I have for most of my life. I'm also writing this for the family and
friends that suffer with us; those who often carry on supporting us regardless. In writing this I also
give thanks to the professional people that have helped me slowly piece my life back together
again; my psychiatrist, my community psychiatric nurse, who's become a friend and confidant, the
duty team and all the staff at Milbrook psychiatric unit. Last, but not least, I hope to get the
message across to everyone with preconceived ideas, or a lack of knowledge and understanding
of bipolar disorder or mental illness in general. I want to give you a small glimpse into our lives, so
you will hopefully come to understand better, to raise awareness for others and have empathy
without judgement. I beg that you listen with the purpose of trying to understand, instead of
listening with the intention of replying or criticizing, because what we experience is VERY, VERY
real....
WebMD gives the definition and symptoms of Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression,
as: "...a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy,
thinking, and behavior." It carries on to explain that: "People who have bipolar disorder can have
periods in which they