It’s always been a tough topic. It takes tough people to deal with it. Let’s you and I be tough today. According to research:
Mental health has grown to be an outsized problem in the United States, with 90% of Americans saying it is now a crisis.
Let’s also be more aware when we ask someone, “How are you doing?” If we hear, “Alright” that can mean so much more. It does for Eric.
Eric is the toughest person I know. When you greet him with, “Hi. How you doing?” he almost always replies, “Alright”.
I have known him for 50 years this coming Monday. Over that period Eric’s Mom and Dad have shared some of his most joyous occasions and some of his most upsetting events. In between these highs and lows Eric would tell you that he has been doing alright. It shows how amazing he truly is.
Eric isn’t like the rest of us. Merely getting up and facing the day; every day; takes enormous strength. He offers no excuses – never has. Eric has earned success and experienced failure. No matter; Eric treats each day anew, the best he possibly can.
You see, Eric suffers from Bipolar Disorder. He lives every day with this unwelcome guest. Medical science is not much help. Bipolar Disorder is an affliction of the brain, very difficult to properly diagnose and almost impossible to treat. Trial and error, mostly. People like Eric with Bipolar Disorder typically wind up dealing with this on their own.
For most of us, we migrate from the “poles” of our highest highs to our lowest lows slowly; with long, “recovery” spans of feeling average in between. Unfortunately, Eric is different. His mood “Rapid Cycles”, swinging back and forth, between euphoric highs and debilitating lows in minutes. Picture your life with his type of mood swings – as if our other challenges aren’t enough to deal with.
Most people with Bipolar Disorder can’t hold steady employment. Eric can, although job changes are frequent in his world. He is a skilled tradesman; a licensed electrician. Most people with Bipolar Disorder can’t live independently. Eric does. If you met him, you would never know the internal turmoil he lives with. He has a pleasant personality; a nice sense of humor; knowledgeable of current events; just like the rest of us.
No, I don’t have Bipolar Disorder, but it’s a huge part of my life. I see first-hand the toughness Eric has as he lives with it every day. Eric is my son and I’m proud of him. One day I hope to learn the source of his amazing toughness so I too can be doing, ”alright”.
Happy 50th birthday, Eric. I love you! Dad
When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.
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