Guest Post: Craig Hamilton part 1 of 3

Craig Hamilton – My Story part 1 of 3

Craig: Sports broadcaster, writer, and motivational speaker. Wow!

In September 2000 I was hospitalized for two weeks after suffering a psychotic episode at Broadmeadow Railway Station in Newcastle, Australia.

The subsequent diagnosis from the team at the James Fletcher Hospital was Bipolar 1 Disorder.

It will be ten years in September since that traumatic time and I have had time to reflect on a great deal about the illness and the best way to manage it and stay well.

Bipolar Disorder, like so many other mental illnesses has a stigma associated with it that makes management of the condition even more difficult than it should be.

 For many people with Bipolar disorder , managing the illness and coming to terms with the sometimes severe mood swings is something managed in secrecy, away from the prying eyes of even close friends and family.

My experience with the illness in 2000 was so traumatic and debilitating that upon recovery I felt almost duty bound to speak up about Bipolar Disorder and attempt to decrease the level of stigma around this illness.

Since 2000 I have been very well. That needs to be stated for the record. I’m still working for ABC Radio in Newcastle , who were my employers back in 2000 when the world that I knew went pear shaped for a couple of months.

I am never complacent about this illness because I have seen the devastation Bipolar can wreak when out of control, so I am constantly aware of the way I live my life. Stress levels, sleep patterns, medication, relaxation and exercise are all part of a management strategy that I have put in place to make sure that the events of 2000 are never repeated.

Craig Hamilton  

Click here for Craig Hamilton Part 2

Click here for Craig Hamilton Part 3