I love writing books- but it’s very hard to stay focused when you are your own boss. A friend of mine who is also a writer and who also has bipolar disorder just sent me this quote:
Bestselling novelist Margaret Atwood was at a party talking to a neurosurgeon. He said that as he had just retired, he thought he’d write a book. (Paraphrasing) Margaret said, “That’s a coincidence. I’m thinking of becoming a neurosurgeon when I retire.”
So true! If you’re a writer- no matter what kind- you are talented and it’s not as easy as some may think it is!
I have taught myself to write when I’m depressed- I wrote a book about it- I guess I’m lucky I’m not a neurosurgeon. I don’t think that’s a career that would be as flexible as writing !
Julie
Hey Julie!
I have wanted to be a writer all my life. I guess I have been a writer all my life as I have always written stories and articles I just haven’t been published in too many places. I recently wrote to you about my hours being cut back at work due to my illness. Now my work has been further reduced due to cut backs and my benefits will be ending on February 1st. Aaagh! But I guess I’m also at a crossroads and there is an opportunity to be found in the panic. I just have to step lightly and not overstep my bounds and bite off more than I can chew. Any advice on doing that would be wonderful. Thanks so much for all you do and all the great words of wisdom!
– Melissa –
Well, this will certainly be in the book I’m planning to write! After the traumas of Drs. meds, hospitals and drained finances( over 30 something years ), I finally got a CORRECT diagnosis, today! I don’t have bipolar disorder! I have ADD to the max! You would think that after all these years SOME ONE of those docs would have asked me the right questions and maybe even listened to me when I tried to convey what I go through!!!! Anyway, Thanks to God that my GP is kind, caring, educated and informed; not to forget he LISTENS! After taking a very long test and one short one, he called back to say I was very much ADD and that he would have meds ready at his office in the am!!! If this works and I’m back to my old self….then Halleujah! If not, then plan B, but I will still use the health cards and books if I ever receive them! Hope no one else out there has gone through what I have. I’m so tired of being jerked around by the “medical” community that I could just scream! THIS, my fellow bloggers is the last hoop I’m going to jump through! Makes me really question if ANYBODY really knows ANYTHING about ‘medicine’. After all….it is called a “Practice”!!!
THAT WAS FANTASTIC….LOL. My daughter is a writer and I’m sure she feels the same way. Thanks for sharing.
Good Morning, Julie!
Not only are you are very talented writer (the information in your books is “reader-friendly” and your blog is extremely helpful), you are a speaker and a bipolar coach. That’s a lot of gifts to be thankful for!
Sandra
I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two. One person may choose to be a writer by gift, and the other by hard work. I know many people who have written about their bipolar disorder and, since it comes from personal experience, and not being a professional writer, their words are heartfelt and understood and related to by many other people with bipolar disorder. The main thing is that it IS being written about, whether the person is a professional writer or not.
Hey Julie!
I am going through a really rough time right now as I have written recently to you. My adopted mommy Holly and my therapist are encouraging me to stop protecting my husband from the truth of my illness and let him in so he can step up and be the man and help me through this struggle. My therapist has been telling me this for years but I’ve been reluctant because I don’t want to be seen as less than and because I fear what his reaction will be to some of my symptoms, particularly my hypersexual symptoms. Last night I was sitting in the emergency room of our local hospital waiting to be assessed for admittance to the psych ward and it occurred to me that maybe I should write him letters about my illness. Then I can craft what I want to say and he can take it in at his own pace. I don’t have to face the conversation and the possibility of chickening out or sugar coating the truth if I do it through writing. I’m hoping to give him one to two letters a week for as long as it takes to explain to him the situation of Bipolar and to let him in. This is a task fraught with fear – I don’t know how he will react. But the thought of sharing isn’t as daunting when I think of writing it in small chunks such as letters. I am planning to keep a copy of each letter before giving it to him – in case it gets torn up or pitched in the process of acceptance. It has crossed my mind that maybe these letters would make an interesting book. “Letters to Mike” A Journey to Discover a Wife’s Battle with Bipolar Disorder. What are your thoughts? I don’t plan to jump right in to writing the book in my fragile state but I plan to keep the pieces that could become the book. I’m very interested in your perspective.
Thanks
– Melissa –
Hello Melissa,
I think that writing letters to your husband is a great idea. It’s hard for others to understand what we go through- and why should they? It’s not like this illness is easy to understand. It’s not like a broken leg or the Swing Flu! Those are experiences people can relate to.
I defintely suggest your husband reads Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder. It was written for partners. It can teach him so much about the illness- you can then use your letters to explain how it affects you and how you need his help. As you know, all of my books say that we must teach others what we need- because knowing how to help us is not innate!
I am going to reprint a newsletter here- it’s very long- but I think it’s applicable. It may help him to read it. I wrote it from my perspective as a professional writer who has the illness.
I do think the letters are a good idea for a book- they will be a comfort to you as well! It sounds like you are finding your path to staying stable. It’s very admirable! Here’s the letter. I hope it’s helpful!
**
A note from Julie
I receive so many letters asking how a person with bipolar disorder can get a loved one to accept the diagnosis- I see comments such as,
Hi Julie, thank you for reprinting the newsletter here. As I’ve mentioned in my earlier comments, I have a close friend who is diagnosed with BD and I want to understand this condition better so that I can help him and support him in the best way I could. I am going to buy the books you mentioned, especially LOVING SOMEONE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER. Thank you so much for all your work in providing insight into this illness. I’m glad I bumped into your blog. God bless you!