A True Story of Bipolar Disorder: Annette



Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010

by Linda Rosenberg
The National Council

"Annette's" struggles began at age 14, when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was at this time, that her mother, also suffering from this illness, committed suicide. When she needed friends the most, she was ostracized by her schoolmates once they learned of her illness. Throughout her life she clung to the loving support of her father and sisters.

Annette's 26 year struggle to take control of her illness was sidelined numerous times due to repeated hospitalizations. For this reason, it took 10 years for her to earn a Bachelor's Degree. Her efforts to be independent were also impacted by her illness costing her to lose employment several times.

In 2001, Annette sought help at a local community mental health clinic. As she started to manage her symptoms, her work hours and responsibilities were increased. She was doing well until 2003 when she relapsed and was hospitalized four times in an eight month period. It was during this period that she learned self-help techniques to gain control of her illness--and she's never looked back.

Once back on her feet, Annette worked part time in the same community mental health clinic where she was treated, focusing on outpatient and day treatment programs. Now that she has her life on track, she shares her personal experience with patients dealing with mental illnesses and works hard with them to help them understand that they too can gain control of their illness.

In just five years, she went from a patient struggling with mental illness to a full time mental health worker (case manager) at a local community behavioral health center. She has been struggling with her illness for 26 years yet she never gave up hope. Her compassionate and heartfelt message to others with mental illness is, "If I can do it, you can do it too."

Linda Rosenberg is the president and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. TNC is the unifying voice of America's community-based mental health organizations and behavioral health organizations, lobbying for funding to research treatment for mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder . Lean more at www.thenationalcouncil.org .

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