Two Roads to Recovery

by Stuart Jacoby

I have come a long way in my struggle with bipolar disorder since my first hospitalization thirty-three years ago. There has been a lot of misinformation, wrong medications and misdiagnosis. Finally, five years ago, I started on lithium and zyprexa. These have worked. I have not had a depressive episode in this time. Now I have a semblance of “normalcy” and I’m better able to cope and manage the symptoms of the disorder.

About eight years ago, my doctor told me of a man with bipolar disorder like me. He gave me his phone number and I called him. I found a place where people were like me. This was the Depressive and Bipolar Support Alliance, a group where people come together to share our experiences living with depression and bipolar. Suddenly I wasn’t alone. There were others to talk and relate to. A whole new world opened up. At first I was very shy and hardly spoke. This quickly changed as I gained new confidence. The support group is helpful in several ways. Now I’m a facilitator and have been the group’s treasurer for three years. I met my compeer at the group. I have also nurtured several friends who I met there and built a life around.

My life is now full and very satisfying as I have started sharing my story. I believe a person could learn from it. It is also therapy for me to share it. In this way I have grown and developed psychologically and emotionally. There are two major reasons for my recovery and progress -- finding the “right” medications and becoming involved in DBSA Rochester. Finding the medications has given me my life back. The support group has enabled me to take on new responsibilities I never thought possible. I have been fortunate in having a caring, encouraging, and understanding family. I am truly grateful for that.