What a two edge sword bipolar must be. It sounds both wonderful at times, but hellish, as it punishes for the goodness. It reminds of the proverbial deal with the devil. On my fourth time through the poem, I am tempted to think it is worth it. But then I can only read the poem.
It really is a brilliant curse.
Some of the most brilliant people I know have it it.
It is sometimes sad to see the worst of it,When people can't or don't want help.
As the doctor interview said,You do become self absorbed,eventually eats you up inside if you don't get help.
If you do get help it does a world of good.
I pray for a time when there will be no more disease,like bipolar.
Johnny Lonely Boy
It is amazing how much Dr. Chaffin has managed to achieve in terms of his own self growth and in all he has given to others through medical practice and his art of poetry. I'm so glad he stayed alive.
I thought I posted a reply, but didn't see it up. Glad I'm still alive, wish I didn't have to go through the washer again but it's likely to happen. A little fragile recently but I plug on. Untreated the disease has a 30% mortality so I'm glad I'm not a complete evictim of it. But man oh man, there have been times when suicide appeared sweet. I have never attempted it and promised never to do so. Overall, though, death is a comfort to me because it will end my suffering as I know it.
i have forged my way through a very serious bipolar condition
i was so moody that i could barely function
but i did somehow
i don't know how
i would have such strong/extreme emotions that it was so tremendiously difficult to handle them
it took all that i had at the time to deal and stay stable duuring these times
it seemed like my emotions were controlling me
now i am all better it seems
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Thank you for sharing this inspirational posting.Dr.Chaffins story should give hope to those who are still searching for an answer.I can relate to many of his feelings of self worthlessness and seeing life as unreal.I have never been suicidal,but I have gone through most of my life feeling everything I do is wrong and everything I say is stupid.It helps to read stories of intelligent, creative people like Dr. Chaffin and recognize the symptoms that I share.I plan to check out the poetry of Dr. Chaffin and see if it can further inspire me. Thank You
Thank you so much for stopping by to comment! I am sure that Dr. Chaffin will be heartened by your kind words.
Should give hope to those who are still searching for an answer? Yes but it should also encourage sufferers to try a new medication to add to the list. Really speaking people on five or six different medications like Dr. Chaffin for Bipolar is tragic. This is insane here in Australia. If one or two medications no longer work than the problem is not chemical. I too was receiving electric shocks and medication was not working until a psychologist showed me that my problems were not purely chemicals. In Australia here those who inspire take as little medication as possible. No one takes five medication for Bipolar and we all cope much better than Americans thanks very much. Australia is far ahead but you Americans keep popping pills and cheers for the pharmaceutical companies who are sucking your life out of you. We are discovering that three things contribute to Bipolar: a genetic predisposition to acquire the disorder; traumatic life experiences particularly during childhood and lastly, in very small numbers, those who have a purely chemical imbalance. Good on you Dr. Chaffin I am sure you have the support of the pharmaceutical companies. Please do not reply I really do not want to hear from you. It is my duty to urge people to take one or maximun two medication for bipolar. It is your body after all. Thank God for Australia. Thanks Alfredo
You, sir, neither doctor nor therapist, speak out of your nether hole. How dare you advise an entire country when my own state has more people than Australia? Them are big boots you're wearing; you make some good points but your mistake is a one-size-fits-all philosophy.