An Interview with my Mom
Meet a wonderful member of Bipolar Biweekly
What is one reason mental health matters to you?
It’s not widely understood yet (hopefully someday!) in our society that people with BPD who are accurately diagnosed and treated, and even those who struggle to find the safety of a diagnosis, can live fulfilling, productive lives and even love life. Just ask my family, my loved ones, my social and work communities, ask the person on the street! We are everywhere, we can be accepted and understood. Mental health matters to me because it’s a part of my family’s life, it can be fascinating, and the more we understand the science behind the disorder, the better off we as a society will be.
We might not thrive 100% of the time, but we are full of hope and joy.
What is one reason you have hope that mental health care can work?
Since my first outbreak in 1990 at the age of 29, the science and treatment of BPD undoubtedly have evolved. Although it’s clear that many people who are suffering wait months or years for a proper diagnosis, it’s widely reported that the time overall has shortened for people to be released from confinement to live functional, productive lives. My suffering and episodes were sporadic and mysterious, with many years of robust health in between. When my productive years were interrupted yet again, a dedicated, curious doctor took a stab at this unconventional pattern. She brought me the joy of a diagnosis of BPD —13 years later. It’s a tragedy that there are those in the world who continue to suffer when so much more could be done to educate the medical community and care for these patients.
What is one piece of advice you have for someone navigating their own mental health journey?
This is a tough one because as I’ve written, it took 13 years and many medical missteps (they were trying) to discover what was happening when my life would be interrupted by these mysterious, terrifying and disruptive episodes. Emphasis on terrifying in so many cases. At this stage in the scientific process, I would encourage and urge you as the patient (when/if you can) and strongly suggest to family members, even though it can be so daunting and exhausting, to read and research as much as possible. There are so, so many resources out there, and it behooves you to do the work. You may have a wonderful medical team, but there is so much more that you can learn and share. My daughter unearthed all sorts of resources for my son and me that we hadn’t discovered. Work as a family, as a team. You’ll get there, just do it.