Memoirs of a Bipolar Soul

Description

The book Memoirs of a Bipolar Soul is the true story of the author's unique experience as an adult with bipolar manic depression. Based on his experiences over a thirty-four year period, the book chronicles the many difficult, sometimes dangerous situations that he has faced because of his disorder. Not only does the book describe various living situations and personal relationships, it also portrays the inner struggle of an individual overwhelmed by a major mental illness. The book also describes the role creativity and spirituality play in understanding and treating bipolar manic depression. Ultimately, however, the book offers hope, as the author gains wisdom in managing symptoms and understanding the world.

About the Author

John Zurn has been faced with the challenge of bipolar manic depression for his entire adult life. Despite this disability, he has still managed to work and write for over thirty years. As a teacher and rehabilitation counselor, he has helped others find a sense of hope and purpose. As a poet and seeker, he continues to describe the promptings of the human spirit. Zurn credits his long term recovery to symptom management and the willingness to learn from his mistakes. Zurn is fifty-four years old, and has an M.A. in English from Western Illinois University. He lives in Geneva, Illinois with his wife, Donna.

Book Extract

In some ways, this isn't a story about me at all. Instead, it's the story of an old friend of mine, who has stayed with me like a half-forgotten memory over the years. He's a good companion in a lot of ways, and he has helped me through some very difficult times. But if the truth be told, he has a little of the rebel in him. He's unpredictable, sometimes surly, and generally has the knack for making people feel uncomfortable. Whether he has changed over the last few years and turned some corner in his life, I can't say. But fond memories often drift through my mind whenever I remember our time together.

Yet, despite our friendship, I've often tried to "ditch" him because he continually seems to get me into some kind of trouble. After awhile, he crosses some line or breaks some rule, and then, inevitably, some crisis erupts. So, eventually, I always desert him and find my own way. By moving around and leaving no forwarding address, my deepest hope has been for him to leave me alone. But no matter how often I try to deceive him, he almost always appears at my front door complaining bitterly about my lack of gratitude for his many years of loyal friendship. So, after a few moments of awkward silence, I have always ended up apologizing, and we then usually rummage through the past and slug down martinis. But now you see, once again I've ditched him, and he seems to be gone for good. His name is Robert Porter, but I just call him Bob. My name is John.