Such was the roller-coaster of feelings that Donald had lived with since he was a child but was only diagnosed with having Bipolar 1 about 20 years ago … and finally everything started to make sense.
“I had so many jobs and everything would be going well and then all of sudden I’d have a string of panic attacks and ruin it,” he explained.
“When I was first diagnosed I was on about 200 pills a day but now I’m down to seven.”
But it’s not the pills that can take all the credit for Donald’s stability now but more the support group that he was introduced to and has come to depend on while all the time giving support to others.
Meeting at Bankstown Sports Club on the first Wednesday of the month, with the next on October 2, 6-9pm, the Bipolar Support Group offers a safe space for people to discuss their issues with like-minded people who know exactly what they’re going through.
“The other support leader is registered nurse Leese and has Bipolar 2 which is less about the highs and lows and more about just feeling depressed,” Donald said.
“A lot of people with mental health issues don’t talk about it because of the stigma but talking is what helps the most; talking is the best medicine and there is no judgement in our group in which carers and families are also welcome.”
For more info, email: donaldmead58@gmail.com or call 0415 727 155.
Bipolar support on offer
ONE day contemplating jumping in front of a train or driving off a cliff and thinking that was normal, the next day Donald Mead might feel as if he was king of the world.