Hello
My name is Will. I am survivor of Bipolar 1 Disorder. I was diagnosed at the age of 20 while I was a sophomore at Boston College. Now, at the age of 38, I can happily say I've made it out of 14 psyche ward visits. Yes, that's right, 14. For a time there it was touch and go on whether or not I'd fully recover from pretty severe psychosis...keep reading for more!!
My Story
In 2023 I had just finished up with electric convulsive therapy or ECT and I was a shell of myself. Clearly sliding deeply into depression. My family was there to offer any help they could. I made the decision to check into a mental health rehabilitation clinic called Rose Hill in Holly, Michigan. There I got the break from society and the break from life I really needed. More importantly, I met a bunch of people with and in similar dispositions. In the majority of the cases I was quite a bit older than many of the visitors. I had been through what many of them were going through. The shock of a mental health diagnosis is real. There's a bit of adjusting back to reality that needs to happen. And of course, there is a denial. I came with plenty of questions and open ears. I had been at the bottom of the mountain before. I knew the climb up was filled with obstacles; best be prepared.
Well, I've been out of Rose Hill for well over a year, and feel invigorated at what life is throwing me. With more of my time being devoted to writing my second book about bipolar disorder -- another autobiographical piece. This one with more insight and advice on dealing and coping with bipolar 1 disorder. -- I tell my journey through both a traumatic manic episode with delusional psychosis and easily two years of depression. Unlike my first book, Nobody Believes Crazy, released around five years ago, my second book, which I'm feeling comfortable with the name Undeniably Crazy, will speak directly to an audience with questions or concerns regarding bipolar disorder. While writing the book, it is my full intention to start the work of growing into a leading mental health advocate for bipolar 1 disorder. I have been through the ringer in life and I'm here today as a survivor. I know there are other men and women out there that have to have questions; families that feel more lost about a diagnosis than their son or daughter. I'm here to spread my mission: to make it easier on the people new to a diagnosis moving forward. There is no reason why our path forward needs to go unexplained and stigmatized by the public. The silence bears a burden as challenging as the diagnosis itself. The time to break that silence and fight for every one individual's seat at the table and story to be heard is now. Don't let yourself be a victim of this disease. Let your voice be heard!
