I have devoured three memoirs of bipolar and depression in two days, using long hours in the afternoon to read. My favorite book by far was Terri Cheyney’s Manic: A Memoir. It’s not written chronologically, but by varying mood states. It sweeps you off your feet and takes you on a bipolar ride. You are with her on this journey, absorbed in her thoughts, jolted into a stark reality, and brought back to the ground only to be hoisted up again. It is quite the experience. The writing is excellent, fast paced when necessary, restful and down trodden in others – mimicking the moods of bipolar.

I have maintained a stable mood while reading the memoirs; I was a bit concerned that I would get depressed reading William Styron’s Darkness Visible, but I found it so aptly described depression that I was more in awe of the beautiful writing than I was in relating to the feelings, if that makes sense. I think I purposefully kept a distance and tried not to linger on any of the passages, but it was an amazing read. It improved my vocabulary, too, I hope, as I looked up 15 words to find their meaning!

The other book I read is Mad Like Me: Travels in Bipolar Country by Merryl Hammond. She was the most relatable to me; she was diagnosed in her fifties (I was diagnosed in my thirties). When she was manic she would gather clip boards and post it notes and other office supplies and jot down notes about her experience. I have never been hospitalized, and I believe she had two hospitalizations (sorry, soggy memory). She focuses a lot on the effect her moods had on her family and friends. It was interesting to note that her husband was very patient with her during her depressions, but was exasperated with her during her mania – at least that is her perception of events.

I hope some of this was interesting and not too painful to trudge through. My brain feels a bit like sludge today, but I still felt like writing. I hope you have a wonderful day!