What Goes Up: Surviving the Manic Episode of a Loved One

by Judy Eron, Xavier Francisco Amador (Foreword)

For those with loved ones who suffer from manic-depression.

Genres: Psychology

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2005

Reviews

[Skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the events in this book took place on the Long Beach Peninsula during a time I was going through similar events. I wish I had had this book to read In 2003.

[Sharron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Eron is a social worker and her husband, Jim, was a psychologist and diagnosed as bi-polar. This book details the last year of Jim's life and his deep slide into depression after he quit taking Lithium and started self-medicating with marajuana. This book was important for me as I haven't found too many on bi-polar where the point of view of the loved one is depicted. My partner is bi-polar and many of the situations in Judy's book were all too familiar. It was difficult reading at times and I would have to stop and cry for a bit. Judy gives some practical advice as well as what didn't work in her situation. I took from this book that in my partner's situation we are on the right track. We have learned the triggers and symptoms of mania and depression and are trying to head those off before they even begin. I was also reinforced to encourage my partner to continue to take medication and report any problems to his therapist. So far, so good. We've been together over 20 years and been through ups and downs and are still going. I also learned to appreciate my partner and love him even more. Judy was amazing in her love for Jim. She admits her own failings but also admits she did the best she could.

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. On the one hand, I haven't seen very many things written at all that help in processing how to feel, how to act, when someone you know & care about is in a manic state; it's one of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had, and it might've been nice to have some frame of reference. But on the other hand, I disagree with almost everything that Judy and Jim's family do for him. I can't believe that no one had any inkling of the possiblities when he stopped his lithium, when he'd had a manic episode before & gone AWOL, for christsake.
But I do feel badly for both a mean review & for not liking the book; who am I to judge this woman's experience? Throughout, she makes countless references to the stupid things she did during The Bad Year - how painful must that kind of hindsight be? I made mistakes that I feel terrible about during my Bad Summer, but my friend lived. Her husband did not. Sorry, Judy.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. It will be very helpful to anyone with a friend or loved one struggling with bipolar disorder. There is a great list of tips at the end of the book. It tells the true story of the author Judy Eron and her husband Jim as they lived through Jim's wild manic episode that lasted almost a year and ended with his suicide. (This is not a spoiler as the author talks about it from the beginning and throughout the book.) Judy and Jim were both mental health professionals and still succombed to the sneakiness and unpredictability of this horrible disease.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and a very helpful read. I appreciate the author for sharing every bit of her experience with her late husband. It was definitely too difficult dealing with his struggles as what she wrote on this book but the strength and the faith God had supplied for her during those times is indeed very inspiring.

[Leanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking true story told by the widow of a man who lost his battle with bipolar disorder.