Bipolar Disorder is defined as “A psychiatric disorder marked by alternating episodes of mania and depression.”   For those of you who suffer from this, or have loved ones who do, it’s a difficult road to navigate.  Those afflicted with it are victim to its extreme up and down swings, which are not comparable to what a “normal” person would experience in especially good or bad times.   Things that, to most, seem logical aren’t always the tangible answer for people suffering from Bipolar Disorder.  It consumes not only the patient’s life, but also radically affects the lives of those around them.

It has also been stated that this is a genetic disease, therefore children of Bipolar parents are highly suseptical to it.  In this family, the disease strongly affected David’s father.  In addition, his mother suffered from emotional disorders.  This combination led to a rather strange life for the family… a difficult one at best. 

Many Bipolar patients are highly functional and exceptionally intelligent.  When in a manic state, this could create amazing brilliance or extremely damaging behaviors.  The problem lies with the consistency of the medications prescribed and taken by the patients.  For many, if the medications dull the mind too much and it is difficult for the Bipolar patient to continue to want to take the medications because they are not truly “feeling” life.  And, that patient may be alright for a period of time, but eventually the mania and the depression will kick in and in manic episodes the patient loses all control over sensibility and reason.

It’s a tricky disease and the combination of medications is even trickier.  What may work for some will not necessarily work for others.  In David’s experience, we see how the family functions inside and outside of being medicated and what those ramifications are.  I believe that there’s a negative stigma attached to being Bipolar.  But, being Bipolar doesn’t equate to a person being mentally incapable or psychotic.  It’s a disease which attacks the nervous system and the center of the brain which regulates moods.  Untreated, many of these patients are more likely to commit suicide or self-medicate via drugs and alcohol. 

  Reading this book led me to better understand that there are also different classifications of this disorder.  I learned so much about how Lithium is used to stabilize Bipolar patients as is Electroconvulsive therapy.   I found so much compassion for this family in which only the daughter seemed to escape the affliction. 

The Rating

This book was, by far, the best memoir that I’ve read about this disease.  Everything that I read improved my understanding of this disease and how it not only affects the individual, but also the family.   I would 100% recommend this book to any person who is connected to somebody diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  I found this book to be riveting and pertinent to today’s society with so many suffering from this disease, unbeknownst to themselves.

FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided to me from the publisher.  Clicking on the either the photo of the book cover or the link next to the purchase price stated above will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page.  No purchases are necessary.