"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way."
"A Tale of Two Cities" (1859) is one of Charles Dickens' greatest and darkest novels. In the opening, you will find the most famous lines in American literature. It is known that Dickens whose general view of life was dim, struggled with depression and most of his writings reflected his wavering mood.
It is said that a man's best reflection is found at the bottom of a well, which infers that he must be in the water drowning in order to see it. In other words, self-analysis may be a product of reflection during the worst of times and one must be in it to recognize it.
Charles Dickens opening lines could have been written by a bipolar patient of today. It was the best of times when psychotherapy was firmly in place. It was the best of times when there was mutual respect and patient compliance. When an ample supply of "true wellness" was abundant, medication and management filled life's experiences with the best of times. When symptoms no longer existed, it was the best of times. Remission is found in the best of times. But when the "better than well" frame of mind surfaced and medications are stopped because of it, life becomes the worst of times.
In the worst of times, there is no longer continuity of care. No longer a shadow of mental illness, it becomes a dark likeness and deeply engrained oppressor in ourselves. In the worst of times there are triggers, faulty medications, and changing body chemistry; it was the worst of times. In the worst of times, triggers activate to become symptoms, and symptoms turn to unwellness, in hindsight; it was the worst of times. In the worst of times, illness appears confusing. "Better than well" is the mind convinced it has been cured; the cessation of medication, the abandonment of therapy and then the fallout, it was the worst of times. It was the worst of times when thoughts and feelings were hidden. It was the worst of times when one felt alone. It was the worst of times when suicide seemed like the only answer. How uncanny, the worst of times can be forgotten so easily. Perhaps it is wisdom that moves us in a forward direction leaving all that is fear, and doubt, and shame behind.
In this age of wisdom, experienced psychiatrists and mental health professionals have grown within their practice and can treat by their vast experience. In this age of wisdom, gold standard medications more often are being used. Through wisdom, by experience, the consumer can avoid what was once a trigger to unwellness. And in hopefulness, a promise to ourselves for self-awareness can be fulfilled. In this age of wisdom, our future has promise because we are more knowledgeable, we are more investigative, we have become less afraid. In this age of wisdom there is no reason to lack information.
