Do I think that I am so special? Not really. But I need to nurture my delusion of grandeur because it is a source of much creativity. Many good things come out of this delusion of grandeur just like the music found at the link below:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/list/a100258/hope

Which I have composed a while ago and which can be freely downloaded.

If such good things come out of my delusion of grandeur, why should I dislike it? And why should anyone else dislike it? It is a source of something good.

The thing is that I think completely differently from the norm. In my different way of thinking there is room for delusion of grandeur, bipolar disorder and all other differences and disabilities.

If we learn to truly value bipolar disorder and delusions of granduer we not only eliminate stigma but we gain a real lot because the kind of art and science that we would get in return would be something truly increadible not yet seen or experienced.

the gift can be destructive or constructive and it largely depends on how we see bipolar and what we do to control it. It is a dangerous and very powerful gift that needs constant attention. Those who learn to control it become outstanding people who have great wisdom, knowledge and are in touch with wonderful emotions. I think that we are REAL people not robots: we are individuals.

Dear Captain,

for me and my wife bipolar is not a negative experience: to the contrary, it is source of much creativity and inspiration. Both my wife and I have learned, over the years, to recognise our triggers. You may not be able to control Mania once it has taken hold but one can recognise triggers like high energy, no sleep, and a general overwheling brain activity. If we do something about it when this happens then we can control the Mania and prevent it from taking hold. It has happened that we have had a relapse. For example, a couple of years ago I lost many friends to suicide all in a very short period of time. This was enough to trigger the worst symptoms of my bipolar2. I became unwell and had to go temporarily on medication for a short period of time. Usually I control my bipolar2 without medication jjust like I do now. Yeet I didn't let this relapse stop me from being optimistic. You got to forgive yourself, understand that you have a seriious condition and move on. In twenty years both my wife and I have been reasonably well with only 2 relapses each. Everytime we helped each other because we understand bipolar well.

There are two very good medications that work in the long term and these are Lithium and Epilim. Unfortunately not everyone tollerates these drrugs but many people do. These drugs have a good track record for long term treatment and they are older, first generation, drugs. The second generation drugs are not as good with more side effects and are less realiable particularly in terms of long term treatment. For long term they are not good. My wife with bipolar one has been first on Lithium for 15 years and then switched to  Epilim and has been on this drug for many years now. She only takes ONE medication for bipolar and the rest is hard work ensuring adequate sleep, no drugs, no alcohol, a good diet, a reasonably happy and trouble free life and lots of creativity, art and reading books. The few times that I have taken medication it has been Epilim all the time and nothing else.

As John always says knowedge is absolutely necessary.  It is important to have enough knowledge of the beast so that we can keep it on a leash and control it. Is it possible to fully control it? Yes but as John also says it takes years. I am learning to control it and it is a struggle. If I have had 2 relapses in 20 years that is not the end of the world and it does not prevent me from having a reasonably good life.

Yes, bipolar is serious and it can be terrible but it does not need to be if we learn strategies. There are many other conditions that are just as bad. Most peoople on Earth have some sort of mental or physical disorder: cancer, high blood pressure, respiratory and heart problems, diabetes, and so on. The list is endless. These other condition also impact on emotions, feelings and the quality of life. But a good life and happpiness are not just present in the absence of disability or illness: to the contrary in many cases illness and disabilities can be the key to a better lifel to greater knowledge and wisdom.

I am currently reading a book on some indigenous people in Taiwan who have both catholic spiritual priests and missionaries and Shamans to help them. They rely on both Western medicaine, catholicism and Shamanism but, as I am reading, when it comes to mental illness they prefer the Shaman because a Shaman can often help the person with a mental illness achieve a more permanent recovery. I think it is all up to how we see the mental disorder and what kind of help we get. I don't know if John knows anything about Shamans but it wouuld be interesting if he wrote something about how honest and respectable Shamans treat mental illness. I think that it is important for us to know how other cultures tackle the problem.