I can give you an insider’s view of a major mood disorder, and how I lifted myself up to regain employment and society with all its benefits. A happy ending? Sometimes.

Nature and nurture. Brain chemistry and environment. Breakdowns, recoveries, relapses, courage to come back.

I was misdiagnosed at age twenty in 1970 as schizophrenic. I received the correct diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder at age forty three in 1993. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, I was called to the bar in 1979. My possible legal career was sabotaged by clinical depression and psychosis. I resurfaced as a temp worker on Bay Street, then a supply teacher with the Catholic School Board. One job firing after another followed due to the illness. There were eight or nine hospitalizations as medications were halted or manipulated.

By 1998, I achieved enough stability to be hired by the Canadian Mental Health Association (Ontario Division), CMHA. I launched a teaching path with police, of all ranks, and with medical, nursing and social work students at various universities and colleges. I taught about the nature of mental illness and its consequences.

I enjoy life today with the unconditional love and healing support of the Toronto Catholic Worker community and my extended family. I was chosen Consumer of the Year 1999/2000 at CMHA (Ontario Division). I was featured on the CBC radio show, Tapestry, on April 27, 2003, on the topic of “Exploring Madness”. I was chosen as a Courage to Come Back Award winner in 2003 by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). I was featured on the TVO show, More to Life, on the topic of bipolar affective disorder. I have just completed five years of employment as an information officer at the McLaughlin Information Centre of CAMH.