My father is 87 year old, old school thinker. A pick yourself up by your bootstraps person, a self made millionaire.



Until I was disabled by BiPolar I was an EXTREMELY successful person in my Dad's eyes. I believe I was hypomanic for years. And there is nothing like a hypomanic employee to make a company happy. I went from a switchboard operator to a senior manager for a major automobile finance company in about 10 years. I was one level from becoming an executive when I became disabled. I was well compensated for my daily work which of course made my father extremely proud. So what that twice I had to come up with $100,000 to pay down my debts. Merely nuisances, right?



I became permanently disabled in 1988 with a deep depressive episode. I was hospitalized several times, needed ECT treatment, the whole gammit. It's hard to remember but I think I was in this black mood for several years.



I have said that to say this, now that I'm on disability with BiPolar, my father believes I'm a "loser". I have gained a significant amount of weight, I am a rapid cycler, don't make much money now, am drug resistant and see too many doctors.



This book was is well put together and put in understandable words for someone who has never heard of 'rapid cycler', BiPolar I and II. I have been able to highlight areas that directly talk about my condition.



He may never understand, but now I have given him a tool to read. Please pray that he will get a better understanding.