Dealing with mental disease

Dealing with Mental Illness

As this is my first article posted on Vocal, I wanted to take half a second to just say “Hi” and thank you for reading my article! I hope it provides value and you enjoy it. Have an awesome day!

Being careless with your mental health can lead to suffering that you might not escape from. I say this because I've lived with mental illness all my life. I was only diagnosed five years ago, at the age of 55, after the urging of a girlfriend—my diagnosis: Chronic Bipolar Disorder. Today, I'm 60, and I've spent over 40 years as an adult living with this crippling condition—foolishly choosing to ignore it for much of that time, pretending it didn't exist.

I'm not a mental health professional, but I want to share what I've learned in the hopes that it might help someone else living with mental illness. Maybe it'll make someone think twice before doing something harmful out of desperation. I understand the fight for survival when living with a disability, especially if you feel like you have no one to turn to and no resources to get by. Desperation can come quickly. I've been disabled since 2008, living with both Bipolar Disorder and physical disabilities. I use a walker now, having been diagnosed with sciatica, though I believe there's more going on.

In this article, I want to share some of the most critical things I've learned about living with mental illness. I'm no professional, but I can tell you what's helped me live a somewhat stable life and stay out of major trouble. So let's get to the real issue: How do you keep going when you can't trust your thoughts? That's the question. Looking back, I'm amazed I've made it this far without falling into a major crisis. I'll say this up front: I'm not Christian, but I believe if it weren't for God's hand on me, I wouldn't be here today to tell this story.

I'm not here to preach religion. I'm spiritual, but I found that organized religion didn't work for me. Now, I'm not saying organized religion is bad for everyone, but in my experience, it often felt confining. For me, true spiritual growth happened when I stepped away from religious structures that didn't work for me. We all need to find our path to peace and understanding. My journey led me to explore Higher Consciousness, and that's what helped me find clarity and love in my life.

I discovered the path of Higher Consciousness, and that's what opened my mind and helped me think differently—about my emotions and the drama they cause. I was causing a great deal of chaos in my life, and admitting that was a turning point. You must learn to control your emotions! In my experience, it's those emotions that lead you into trouble, making you do things you'd never normally do. And with mental illness, your mind can't always be trusted. That's the daily struggle.

So here's the main message of this article: If you think you have a mental illness, don't wait. If you feel like something's wrong, ask for help. Some so many people genuinely care and are willing to help in any way you need. But the first step is admitting you want to talk to someone. Maybe start with a casual chat over lunch with someone you feel comfortable with—just getting to know each other. I've always believed this is crucial. Meeting a doctor, much less someone you'll be divulging your most intimate secrets to, in a relaxed setting helps build trust before the formal sessions even begin.

Living with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness is a dangerous gamble. Don't put yourself at risk. Emotional outbursts—and even physical ones—have ruined lives, sometimes permanently. People caught up in their illness often aren't fully responsible for their actions, but by the time they realize this, it's too late, and they find themselves trapped in a system that turns life into a living hell.

There's no shame in admitting you might have a mental illness. Acknowledging it is the best thing you can do for yourself. I remember a true story that helped me see things differently. A wonderful woman I met at work once pulled me aside and asked, "If I told you I thought I had a mental illness, what would you say?"

I told her, "I'd encourage you to get diagnosed. If you were willing, I'd go with you and help you through it."

She looked me in the eyes and said, "Then don't be surprised when I say this: I care about you. Don't pretend you don't need help. Be your friend and make an appointment with a psychiatrist. I'll be there with you if you'd let me. Trust me, it's good to have someone with you for that first appointment. You'll start feeling better, and life will stop being an emotional roller coaster. I'm your friend, and I want you to be your own best friend."

That woman changed my life, and I'll always remember her kindness and wisdom. She helped me realize that seeking help doesn't make you weak—it makes you strong. And for anyone out there struggling, it doesn't have to be this way. There's help, and there's hope.

Discovering Higher Consciousness

As I've journeyed through life with mental illness, one thing that has truly helped me gain clarity and peace is discovering what I call Higher Consciousness. For me, this isn't about religion, but about expanding my awareness and finding a way to live in love and understanding—especially when my emotions are turbulent and my mind is unreliable.

There's a book that's changed my life more than any other, and I want to share it with you because I believe it can help untangle the complex web of thoughts and emotions that mental illness often creates. The book is called The Handbook to Higher Consciousness by Ken Keyes, a classic written in the 1970s. It's a true hippie-era book, but don't let that fool you—its teachings are timeless.

This book helped me learn how to view my emotions in a new way and how to break free from the mental patterns that kept me stuck. It offers practical steps to living a life rooted in love, not fear or anger. I've decided to share pieces of this book with you, one chapter at a time. My hope is that by reading along with me, you'll find the same clarity and peace that I did.

In the coming weeks, I'll be reading and discussing one chapter at a time. We'll dive into these teachings together, and I'll add my reflections on how this wisdom has shaped my life and how it can guide you on your own path to higher consciousness.

Let me be very honest here: I haven't reached a place of never-ending love and higher consciousness—not by a long shot. But I'm better than I was, and this beautiful thing called Living Love can change your life.

I've been there—standing in the middle of a city, surrounded by people, and not knowing what to do next. I get it. And I want to offer this to all of you friends out there reading this. I've been so blessed to have accomplished so much in life, even with Bipolar Disorder, and I know in my heart that this diagnosis is not complete. I'm going back into therapy soon, and I'll be approaching it from a new vantage point. I'll share this new perspective with you in my next post, which will come next week.

I'm working hard to achieve a regular schedule with my writing, and I will get there—with patience and time. And hey, guess what? Those two things—patience and time—are gifts, and they're free. The best part? You can give them to yourself.

I hope this first post has given you some value. I hope it made someone smile or feel just a little more understood. Maybe now you know there's someone else out there experiencing the same things you are—and they've gotten through it, so you can too.

Make today an awesome day! Help is just a whispered prayer away.