Customer Reviews

Voices of Bipolar Disorder: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength (Voices Of series)

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I have two close friends with bi-polar disorder and, like Darkness Visible with depression, this book really makes the disease comprehensible to someone who is not afflicted. I highly advocate anyone who may have someone in their life with bi-polar disorder to read this book.

A powerful collection of essays whose cumulative effect is not unlike the impact of The Noonday Demon, Andrew Solomon's account of depression. It's personal, frightening, funny, informative, illuminating ... and brilliant. There's a progression in the sequencing of chapters (four sections deal with characteristics, diagnosis, family, and care), but it's easily, and usefully, dipped into at random (although if, like me, you don't know much about the disease, the introductions by Deborah LaChance and Juliann Garey provide a solid primer).

Sometimes chilling, sometimes comforting, and often heartbreaking. The title tells it. First hand accounts of dealing with this terrible disease, mixed with essays from medical researchers and providers, and an invaluable guide for where to go for more help. For anyone suffering from this disorder, or for their loved ones. Remarkably, considering the subject matter, it is also sometimes, quite funny.

When I started reading, I was confused by all the talk about a play. I really though I had bought the wrong book. Later, though, after I finally made it to the "voices", it became easier to read. I liked that there was input on experiences from people with bipolar, family members/caregivers that shared what it was/is like for them, and then the survival of it all.

It was okay, but not as good as I thought it would be. I had hoped there would be more to the peronal stories, more voices of bipolar.

I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone whose life is touched in anyway by bipolar disorder. Whether you, yourself have this disorder, or a family member, or if you are a caretaker, or if you are a professional...this WILL give you valuable insight that you need to see in black and white.

I have lived with bipolar disorder for nearly 15 years. I have a caring supportive family but some don't understand. Some don't listen, some do but don't believe, some try but are frightened, and some just disappear because it is too much. This book presents brief real life stories in a page or two that resonate with my own experiences. If you can get your loved ones to read it, that is half the battle. Then you have a starting point to discuss the elephant in the room. It is definitely worth the investment.