Peter Higgs

Health Interests

Mood disorders,  all aspects of bipolar disorder including it's treatment & effective survival,  diabetes,  epilepsy,  neurology,  neuroscience,  psychotic illnesses,  advocacy & education for mental health & bipolar disorder. The interplay between and effective manegement of above illnesses in relation to comorbidity.

Drugs I am Taking

Lamictal,  Abilify,  Lithium,  Seroquel,  Avandia,  Diabex,  Diamicron.

About Me

I am a mental health & bipolar disorder advocate & speaker. I live with my wife in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. We were married 22 Sept '07 and are madly in love.

We both suffer from different yet similar mood disorders. Which means we support each other out of a deep understanding for the other's illnesses. My wife provides me with a breath of fresh air to my soul each & every day. She inspires me and keeps me grounded. It is God who nurtures my soul, strengthens my spirit, and provides my life with meaning. So, I consider myself blessed beyond measure.

My diagnosis is Bipolar Affective Disorder Type 1, mixed states, rapid cycling, predominantly depressive. I have epilepsy, which is co-morbid to the bipolar, as well as diabetes. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1992 aged 32, however successive doctors have identified clear symptoms of bipolar disorder present in my life since around the age of 10 years. I have also been diagnosed with a 'psychotic illness'.

The epilepsy was first diagnosed in 1964 at age 6 years. Epilepsy can mask some symptoms of bipolar disorder and this is what happened to me. In fact it was assumed by the medical community that all my bipolar symptoms were caused by epilepsy, until a serious suicide attempt in 1990. I got to the point of hopelessness and helplessness whilst becoming more and more sick. I believed that I was a permanently irresponsible, bad, human being with a fatal flaw in his personality and character. I was put on medication that began to pull me out of suicidal oblivion. However it was another two years until I was accurately diagnosed.

I have received a government pension since November of 1990 as a result of the bipolar illness preventing me from earning a living. For 11.5 years I lived in a supported accommodation facility. This facility provided a home that enabled me to survive, learn, grow and help others. It houses approx 170 people who come from all walks of life. However all have some kind of serious illness whether it be depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, psychotic illnesses, various addictions as well as the intellectually impaired. Including the very elderly and ex-prisoners.

I involved myself in the daily care and counselling of many who passed through our facility. Eventually being made a member of staff, on a voluntary then paid basis, which enabled me to participate in advocacy on behalf of the residents. I also participated in advocacy to our state government, including the Director-General of Health on behalf of our facility. I continued in this role in relation to other projects designed to improve our ability to care for our residents. We were the first in our State to receive formal accreditation and partial funding so that our residents could be better looked after.

I have been a public speaker since 1998. Initially giving half hour speeches to the public about nutrition as well as mental health. This has developed gradually into being asked to participate in training sessions designed to educate our state public servants about mental health, and those who suffer from mental illnesses. This was most rewarding and something I hope I can continue to do in the future.

I still experience the worst that this insidious illness can throw at us. At times I still feel as though I am walking as a ghost through a 'black horror of living death'. At these times I go into what I call 'survival mode'... I do all the things I have taught myself to do to make it through to the other side.

However, I have learnt that I can live with a reasonable quality of life more than not. Also that I can make a significant contribution to people and society as a whole. That is a hope I would like to leave you with. You can live a fulfilled life doing things that help you and others. Neither you or I will do everything we want in this life, because of our illnesses. That's not negativity, just reality. However you can experience better quality of life and accomplish much while living with this terrible illness.

Two of my unequivocal principles for managing my illnesses and life are 1) asking questions; and 2) allowing God to nurture my soul and inspire my spirit. Aristotle said, "Those who wish to succeed must first ask the right preliminary questions". I search out knowledge in order to ask questions of it, I ask questions of myself and my fellow man, I ask questions of my doctors, I ask questions of the passing parade of life, and even of God.

Thank You

Peter Higgs