ONE Article: Bipolar, the Conclusion

I decided to write about my bipolar for a number of reasons. One of which was to help diminish the stigma that is associated with having a mental illness. I hope that I have been able to help.
At the same time, I know that there is a long way to go. Someone just this week told me that during a church service here in Hays the speaker told the congregation that depression was a result of sin in a person’s life.

When I heard this, I was very upset, but unfortunately I was not surprised.

Depression, bipolar and other mental illnesses are often seen as a different from all other illnesses. People don’t realize that the chemical imbalances that occur in the brain are just as harmful as diabetes or cancer. I wonder if that speaker would say that those who develop breast cancer do so because of unrepentant sin in their life.

This highlights the fact that there is much work to be done as far as education about mental illness. If I have been able to reach just one person through this column, then I feel that it was worth it.

Mainly, though, the feedback to sharing my story has been overwhelmingly positive. I have had the honor of talking with many of you on the phone or in person, and I treasure the stories that you have shared and the time we spent together. I want to encourage you that though my columns in ONE have come to a close, I am still more than willing to talk with you.

In addition, I am going to continue writing my thoughts about being bipolar on a new blog that I have started: yesIamBipolar.blogspot.com. My hope is to update the blog twice per month so that I can continue to help those who are struggling with questions about bipolar.

Every person deals with some sort of health concern. That’s just how it goes. If you haven’t had cancer, you know someone who has. If you don’t have a mental illness, you know someone who does. I hope that through reading this series of articles you have been able to be encouraged, educated and better equipped about mental illnesses.

I want to take a minute to honor my wife, Lori. When we got married “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health,” neither of us knew how bad things were going to get. I cannot comprehend the pain that I have caused her through all this, and I am so grateful that by the grace of God she has stuck by my side through all of this. Without her I don’t know where I would be.

I truly am blessed to be married to my best friend. Thank you, Lori. I love you.