Question of the Day!

Thanks to the mood disorder team at Johns Hopkins, I got excellent diagnostic and initial treatment. Looking back, I don't think I should have pressured the team to discharge me so early. However, I had been on the unit through both Christmas and New Year's, and I was desperate to return to Philadelphia. That strategy earned me a rough transition back home, though, and I could definitely have benefited from a full two months of treatment. I'm surprised the team didn't push back harder.

It took a full nine years for my treatment team to find a drug combination that worked, and another six until I reached near-constant stability. I say near-constant because I have to work hard to stay stable every single day. I have to take my meds every day and attend my weekly counseling and life coaching sessions. I also have the responsibility of monitoring my mood and letting my caregiving staff know when I'm having a hard day. I've also been a member of an online support group for several years now, which has been extremely helpful.

I'm proud to say that I've only been hospitalized one time since I was initially diagnosed, but that was still early on in my treatment. Since then, I've maintained my independent living status, which for someone living with both Cerebral Palsy and Bipolar I Disorder is a huge accomplishment.

I'm not saying that so much to brag as to show that people with these challenges can have a fulfilling life.