Life Journey of A Manic Depreesive Professional

It was on 5th November, 2009 that a part of my debilitating but exhilirating bipolar journey became a public knowledge with the publication of the article Akhileshwar Sahay Life Learnings from the fight of one man with Bipolar Disorder in Mint..... Life has not been the same thereafter

Sunday, August 31, 2008

The Mind Game- Life and time of a Bipolar

A Quiet-unquiet Mind

It my day one at blogging. And I rather start with my one self, by telling something, which individuals and families across the countries and cultures prefer to keep under the rug. I am a successful knowledge worker, having reasonable material comfort and societal status. But my mind acts quiet- unquiet in turn. And there is not much I can do about it, except managing the inner turbulence in the most optimal manner.

I am one of those other type whom medical science describes as "Bipolar" or "the one having mania-depressive disorder". To the uninitiated, it suffices to say, Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly “high” and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression. Normally first occurrence of bipolar condition, considered largely a genetic condition is in adolescence but there are many instances of late onset.

I am fortunate in having extremely caring family, a strong supportive friend network, having received the best medical care and an understanding organization and colleagues where I work in. But I am the lucky few. To understand what does an average bipolar undergoes, and how disruptive his/her life becomes in India with at least 20 million bipolars (2.7% of adult US population is bipolar) with barely 3,500 psychiatrists ,and even increasing familial, societal and work place taboo against mental illness, one should get hold of the bold movie by young Rehana Mirza-"Hiding Divya" (2006)starring legendry Madhur Jaffrey, Puja Kumar and Deep Kadkare
depicting the life, and fights oof an indian-american bipolar. It is time for the prejudices and the lack of understanding to be replaced by the understanding- bipolars may have a rollar-coastr mind but it is often a "beautiful mind"