Bipolar Autobiography

It takes courage to write a bipolar autobiography – and it can also take courage to read one.

One website I saw actually cautioned bipolar people against reading these books in case they contain triggers. I am not a psychiatrist – and neither was the writer who gave that warning – but my gut reaction, and my own experience, is that bipolar autobiographies are invaluable.

Yes, the recognition and identification can be very painful! Yes, it hurts to be reminded of just how crazy or desperate or depressed we have been! Yes, it is shaming and heartbreaking to be reminded of how our condition impacts on our loved ones!

For me though it has been very comforting to read so many stories of recovery.

Also, the education and insight into effective medications and treatments is invaluable.

Why?

Bipolar autobiographies:

1. EDUCATE: For example, this is the best way to learn about the true cost/benefit trade-offs involved in medication side effects, AND – they show the many faces of mania.

2. MOTIVATE: I get scared enough by all the suicide attempts, relapses, wrecked marriages, lost careers and squandered fortunes to persist with my own recovery program.

3. INSPIRE: Especially the combo of true life triumph and expert medical info in books like Patty Duke’s <i>A Brilliant Madness</i>.

4. ENTERTAIN: Sometimes compelling like a gripping suspense thriller, sometimes hilarious, often tragic – they really do make you laugh and cry. These books tend to be the kind of cover to cover, can’t put down reads we associate with John Grisham or Stephen King.

Celeb or ordinary person?

One way of dividing the genre of bipolar autobiography is into:

1. Books by celebrities, and

2. Books by “regular” people who are relatively unknown. (Until their biography becomes a best seller!)

Here are some winners from each category:

Celebrity autobiographies

Of all the bipolar autobiography by celebrities, there are a handful I personally consider to be the absolute “must reads”:

In particular, don’t miss these must reads:

1. Patty Duke’s Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness.

2. An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison.

and

3. Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking.

Ordinary people

Some non-celeb bipolar autobiography books that have been getting a lot of attention and critical acclaim are:

1. Manic: A Memoir by Terri Cheney
2. Scattershot: My Bipolar Family by David Lovelace
3. Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D by Lizzie Simon
4. I’m Not Crazy Just Bipolar by Wendy K. Williamson
5. My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World by Janine Crowley Haynes
6. Madness: A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher

These ones are my favorites because they combine page-turning readability with practical insights I have used to manage my own bipolar. They are all available as paperbacks from Amazon for around $5-$10 new or starting at just a few cents second hand 🙂

My own true bipolar story

You can read my own true story here.

Celeb bipolar profiles

Kurt Cobain

Winston Churchill

Drew Barrymore

Quotes on bipolar

As you start reading through these quotations you will discover:

– that you are not alone

– that mood disorders are characterized by humor, genius and triumph as well as tragedy

– personal mantras that inspire, comfort and enrich.

The more and more you browse quotes on bipolar, the more and more interested you become. Slowly your problems take on a new perspective. You discover with wonder fresh insight on bipolar lives.

Movies about bipolar

Do you have a favorite film about bipolar disorder? I do!

What are the must see movies about bipolar disorder? See your complete bipolar movie guide. Discover which ones will inform, disturb, inspire and delight!