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Bipolar: A breakdown
"Bipolar: A Breakdown, is a 12 thousand word account of one mans week in a psychiatric institution. In turns bleak, amusing and challenging, Max J Freeman insults his reader regularly, and then hates himself immediately for doing so. Written by a writer clearly on the brink, and in turns both amusing and heart wrenching, Bipolar: A breakdown is definitely a book we should all read, before we draw a clear line between sanity and insanity." Dr Mark Copperbawm
"I couldnt stop reading. This is one book I will remember for a long time. There are several apologies to the reader who may feel insulted. If you do feel insulted when you read this then it's clear you don't understand. There's nothing more valuable than an account of actual lived experience to show us all why and what we need to learn. It's stuff like this that can really influence systems change. It feels honest and it feels real." Sharon Sharman, Learning and Evaluation Manager for a mental health organisation.
"Perhaps a conscientious search for meaning in a meaningless world would drive any one of us to despair. Max finds his meaning in compassion for those even more desperate than he, and in finding words; speaking the ineffable." Cathy, social media user who lost her husband, having struggled with mental health issues for years.
My heartfelt thanks to the 3 real people who reviewed this piece before it went out. As ever with modern publishing, reviews and shares are everything, so I thank everyone who takes the time to read this short piece, but a little extra thanks to anyone who recommends it to their friends.
Peace at all costs.
Max J Freeman
"I couldnt stop reading. This is one book I will remember for a long time. There are several apologies to the reader who may feel insulted. If you do feel insulted when you read this then it's clear you don't understand. There's nothing more valuable than an account of actual lived experience to show us all why and what we need to learn. It's stuff like this that can really influence systems change. It feels honest and it feels real." Sharon Sharman, Learning and Evaluation Manager for a mental health organisation.
"Perhaps a conscientious search for meaning in a meaningless world would drive any one of us to despair. Max finds his meaning in compassion for those even more desperate than he, and in finding words; speaking the ineffable." Cathy, social media user who lost her husband, having struggled with mental health issues for years.
My heartfelt thanks to the 3 real people who reviewed this piece before it went out. As ever with modern publishing, reviews and shares are everything, so I thank everyone who takes the time to read this short piece, but a little extra thanks to anyone who recommends it to their friends.
Peace at all costs.
Max J Freeman
54 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2014
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2015
Bipolar: A Breakdown's wonderful and sometimes far-too-uncomfortable reality had me in tears and then laughing out loud within the space of a few minutes. ‘I’m not a Skinner’s rat‘ springs to mind. Incredibly raw and heartbreakingly personal, it often felt like I was peeking into somebody’s diary, glancing over my shoulder from guilt as I frantically read the text as quickly as I could. I would definitely recommend if it's subject you are interested in or know somebody in a similar situation. It's not pretty at times, it can be angry and self-loathing but there's also hope, humour and truth.
September 26, 2015
I was very interested to read “Bipolar: A Breakdown”. Cards of the table time – I am a mental health nurse of thirteen years’ experience, most of which has been spent working in a variety of inpatient settings (currently working in education). Coupled with this, I have my own mental health issues (chronic anxiety) the treatment for which I have never been happy with, and my father suffered from severe and enduring mental health problems up until his untimely death – which I blame (in large part) on inadequate mental health care…..
Max provides a thorough introduction and context to the book, his state of mind, and to how it is structured. All of which becomes clear and relevant as you read on. Max has is an extremely articulate and cogent writer, which is even more impressive when you consider his situation at the time he wrote it. He has an acerbic and ‘straight to the point’ style which I appreciate. He details the daily drudge of living (albeit temporarily) in a mental health ward. It leads to a mixture of reactions. It is funny, sad, annoying and heart-breaking – several references to his daughter brings the reader back to down to earth, making you realise that this is actual real life rather than just a fictional ACCOUNT. The lack of anything resembling a beginning, middle, and end structure just adds to the authenticity of his writing.
His descriptions of the ward, staff, and other patients are amusing (to me) as they mirror my own experiences and observations of working within mental health. The people, the names he gives people, their attire, mannerisms, etc., are all people I can pick out and remember. Max’s description of the ward routine being based around cigarettes and smoking is every mental health ward in the country (although differs between areas due to restrictions on smoking). His frustration with and the horrendous side-effects with the medication he was prescribed, is an all too familiar situation, as is ‘having to beg’ to be admitted to hospital.
This is not a story, not pleasant, not heart-warming. There are no twists, happy endings, plots or character development, It is a brief, stark snap-shot of a person’s LIFE when they have hit rock-bottom. It is, however, though-provoking, eloquent, obnoxious, and rude… but most of all, real!
This isn’t Benidorm beach reading (or maybe for some it is) but for anyone with an interest (directly or indirectly) with the maybe the biggest health issue of the 21st century, ‘mental health’ then this is essential – if not easy – reading….
To QUOTE Max…. “Peace at all costs”
Max provides a thorough introduction and context to the book, his state of mind, and to how it is structured. All of which becomes clear and relevant as you read on. Max has is an extremely articulate and cogent writer, which is even more impressive when you consider his situation at the time he wrote it. He has an acerbic and ‘straight to the point’ style which I appreciate. He details the daily drudge of living (albeit temporarily) in a mental health ward. It leads to a mixture of reactions. It is funny, sad, annoying and heart-breaking – several references to his daughter brings the reader back to down to earth, making you realise that this is actual real life rather than just a fictional ACCOUNT. The lack of anything resembling a beginning, middle, and end structure just adds to the authenticity of his writing.
His descriptions of the ward, staff, and other patients are amusing (to me) as they mirror my own experiences and observations of working within mental health. The people, the names he gives people, their attire, mannerisms, etc., are all people I can pick out and remember. Max’s description of the ward routine being based around cigarettes and smoking is every mental health ward in the country (although differs between areas due to restrictions on smoking). His frustration with and the horrendous side-effects with the medication he was prescribed, is an all too familiar situation, as is ‘having to beg’ to be admitted to hospital.
This is not a story, not pleasant, not heart-warming. There are no twists, happy endings, plots or character development, It is a brief, stark snap-shot of a person’s LIFE when they have hit rock-bottom. It is, however, though-provoking, eloquent, obnoxious, and rude… but most of all, real!
This isn’t Benidorm beach reading (or maybe for some it is) but for anyone with an interest (directly or indirectly) with the maybe the biggest health issue of the 21st century, ‘mental health’ then this is essential – if not easy – reading….
To QUOTE Max…. “Peace at all costs”
June 17, 2016
Right from the outset the author says the reader will be abused at times, he says at the end you'll probably hate him as much as he does, so if you are easily offended you should go and watch Jeremy Kyle instead. That made me laugh, and I kept laughing at his observations throughout the book, I do feel a bit bad about that what with the subject matter, but when he does get down to the nutty gritty I did feel for him.
His humour and outlook on life reminded me of Stuart Lee's comedy vehicle, the rants about the system, defending those who deserve it and the constant breaking of the fourth wall and communicating with the reader all had a similar feel.
I thought this was going to be a mega rant about the mental health side of things at the NHS, but he was very honest, praising some staff and defending others who were so over worked they couldn't do their job as well as they wanted too.
It was an interesting read, I'm glad he has shared it and hope he got some therapy out of writing it. One of the most memorable lines in the book was...
"it's my breakdown. If you don't like it, go get your own."
His humour and outlook on life reminded me of Stuart Lee's comedy vehicle, the rants about the system, defending those who deserve it and the constant breaking of the fourth wall and communicating with the reader all had a similar feel.
I thought this was going to be a mega rant about the mental health side of things at the NHS, but he was very honest, praising some staff and defending others who were so over worked they couldn't do their job as well as they wanted too.
It was an interesting read, I'm glad he has shared it and hope he got some therapy out of writing it. One of the most memorable lines in the book was...
"it's my breakdown. If you don't like it, go get your own."
September 26, 2015
I wrote this.
Reading back something written in the throws of a mental breakdown is always fun. I hope that the reader will forgive me giving myself 5 stars on this, but to be honest, the fact I could wipe my own arse during this week deserves a round of applause.
As always, I welcome all honest reviews, regardless of how many stars. To know that someone has read something I have written, means far more to me than the applause of sycophants.
Thanks for reading this piece.
Reading back something written in the throws of a mental breakdown is always fun. I hope that the reader will forgive me giving myself 5 stars on this, but to be honest, the fact I could wipe my own arse during this week deserves a round of applause.
As always, I welcome all honest reviews, regardless of how many stars. To know that someone has read something I have written, means far more to me than the applause of sycophants.
Thanks for reading this piece.
January 5, 2015
For a piece that states it was never intended to be published, as a reader you feel like you are supposed to be reading this book. You are being spoken to, you are privileged to be given an insight to a moment in someones life- a part of someones life you never expect hear about. We all have our own streams of consciousness but it is rare to record them and even rarer to share them, thank you for sharing these difficult moments and giving us an insight to your time at an NHS psychiatric institution.
April 25, 2015
Beautifully written indeed. I've read this book three times so far, and I shall probably read again. I liked the writers honesty, his ability to really observe people and himself.
December 11, 2017
Amazing honest and touching
A brutal, honest and insightful, almost familiar rollercoaster of moods and experiences that flow as only a true person who has lived this pain could write. Max I salute you for writing and sharing this. I feel for you and wish you all the very best in finding peace, at any cost. Everyone should read this book to learn what compassion for our fellow humans is and to know the inner torture and pain that hurts so many.
A brutal, honest and insightful, almost familiar rollercoaster of moods and experiences that flow as only a true person who has lived this pain could write. Max I salute you for writing and sharing this. I feel for you and wish you all the very best in finding peace, at any cost. Everyone should read this book to learn what compassion for our fellow humans is and to know the inner torture and pain that hurts so many.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews