Where Does My Mental Illness End, And Where Do I Begin?

From my friend Andy "Electroboy" Behrman comes a thoughtful and thought-provoking essay on the journey through life with bipolar disorder. Is there truly such a thing, he's been asked, as "recovery" from mental illness, or is apparent recovery just a matter of good coping skills? "After more than 20 years of ping-ponging between the two frightening emotional states of euphoric highs and desperate lows," Andy says, "I'm pretty sure I've come up with my answer to this challenging question."

Andy's been through it all, both before and after diagnosis. Uncontrolled mania resulted in his arrest for art forgery. Treatment resistance led him to electroconvulsive therapy. He went through years of experimenting with medications to get the best combination. And he's gone from male stripper to a volunteer at his children's school.

Now he's written - exclusively for About Bipolar Disorder - an extraordinary look into what "recovery" means and the relationship between "you" and "your mental illness." I found reading it extremely rewarding. I hope you do, too.

Mental Health Recovery - A Personal Perspective, by Andy Behrman

_{Photo Courtesy of Andy Behrman, by Dummit Photography}

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