The Pits and the Pendulum: A Life with Bipolar Disorder

by Brian Adams

Spending a week doing nothing but exploring the possibilities of Lego, thereby risking yet another job; impulsively sinking all his savings into wildly impractical self-employment ventures; sleepless nights, gripped by the need to write - these are just some manifestations of the often damaging periods of manic, uninhibited energy Brian Adams has experienced since his mid-twenties. But as a sufferer of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), he has been hospitalized several times with debilitating depression and undergone electric shock treatment, numerous drug therapies and even gone so far as to attempt to take his own life.This engaging, humorous, sometimes dark and sometimes startling account gives rich insight into how it feels to live with bipolar disorder. It is illuminating, and entertaining, reading for people with mental health problems, their families and professional carers.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Memoir

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This an excellent account which lets the reader know just how disabling bipolar disorder is, but which doesn't wallow in self-pity. Instead the tone is one of gentle humor, self-deprecating, with "conversations" the author imagines might occur as a result of his illness. He talks about the sadly still very real stigma attached to the disease, and the ins and outs of various drugs. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know about bipolar disorder. Certainly it's much better than that horribly overrated An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness.

[Reix · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 just okay

I found difficult to keep reading this book but I made it. I'm sorry that it made me feel bored.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good insights into bipolar disorder and a lot of snark.