Description

I want invite you to take an experiential and phenomenological journey through one of the most misunderstood psychiatric disorders - Bipolar Disorder. This piece of work highlights it's nature: it's circularity, particular cognitive style and of course, it's mood. The cognitive style of the depressive portion of the illness is kind of like looking at the world and yourself through a carnival mirror, reality becomes very distorted. One's perceptions, thoughts, feelings and interactions with others are all in response to what one sees in the mirror - and it feels as if there is no way out.

When you are finished with this book, my goal is that the reader will be able to understand and identify both depression and Bipolar in your world. Depression alone is the most frequent, but most treatable psychiatric disorder that exists. I hope this material is disturbing. It was meant to be. Do something about these disorders in your world. Encourage loved ones to go for help, because this disorder can be lethal for some, but for most it's just constant despair.

About the Author

Marci Manna is a clinical psychologist who resides in Branson, Missouri. She has been in private clinical practice for 11 years. Her main clinical interests are mood disorders and pharmacology. For the past 5 years, she has chaired a committee for the advancement of prescriptive authority for medically trained psychologists for the Missouri Psychological Association. She has suffered from Bipolar I disorder since the age of 18. Her interests include writing, Taekwondo and caving.

Book Extract

The irritated cat on the couch
The stillness of it all
I think I've lost myself in you again
Mislead by starry-eyed dreams
Didn't read the signs right
She's blind from the blotted out night

Operation killjoy, which misery shall I employ?
Something to make you cry?
Something that makes you die?
Something to back you off?
Something that brings pain?
Something you'll never want again?

She understands not what it's about
But what it is not
Captive and motionless in the unforgiving sludge
I want to run away
Make a change tonight

Operation killjoy, which pain shall I bestow?
Something to make you sleep?
Something that makes you weep?
Something to send you away?
Something that makes you pay?

Tell me you'll still be there
When it is time for me to leave
Passion, kiss, flower
Enterprising unloyal one of deceit
I'll never love you
You'll never leave me