AssyrianRebel1

I posted this in the youtube video, but I feel it's better placed here on the forum. I have a deeply personal experience with this subject. 2 years ago I went through what is described as a "manic episode" culminating into a one night where I had a psychotic break (I experienced hallucinations and the line between reality and fantasy had been blurred to the point of not existing - indescribably terrifying I can assure you). My family was understandably shocked (happened in the middle of the night, they called the police). I was brought in under involuntary treatment I was so heavily drugged that I have practically no memory of my first week in the mental ward. But after I gained some semblance of conscious thought I realized the hellish situation that I awoke to. I became obsessed with finding out what happened, and how to get out of the prison like environment (Live in Canada, so it was a gov funded hospital). I later found out (after maybe 3 days of asking everyone, staff / patients / family) that I had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder It's a lifelong condition characterized by swings between mania (highs) and depression (lows). Having been a psychology student at the time / having an idea of the non-concrete nature of psychiatric diagnosis, I did not the permanence of the condition. I actively worked to rebuild my conscious thought process (it was fogged with over emotive states / powerful psychotropic medication), in a sort of self-CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Of course I spoke to the psychiatists / therapists But they were convinced of my diagnosis, so their help was geared towards treatment / explaining of my "permanent" disorder. After I eventually was deemed "mentally fit" (which took about 2 more weeks - not fun I assure you), I was released to voluntary out-patient care. It was at this time when I began to ween myself off the drugs I was taking, and worked on self-knowledge to a greater degree. After about 3 months I was completely off the medication, and symptom free, with no"lapses" It greatly helped that I had family and friends who supported my decision, though of course they thought I could always fall back on "conventional" medicine if it didn't work (thankfully that didn't happen). This show has been a great help, and I appreciate all the work you're doing Stefan, I will continue to donate to the show as long as it exists.