Drumming his way to good mental health

by Marc in Wisconsin

Hello, my name is Marc and this is my bi-polar adventure. I was diagnosed bi-polar back in 1998 or 1999 after a severe manic episode. During this episode I attacked my father, put cereal boxes in our driveway, and had enough energy to just go and go...I've never felt more free. It was like when you're a little kid and you do something and you forget about it and move on to the next thing.

As a professional musician (drummer), I know having bi-polar can be a plus, as the creative juices can really flow, you have boundless energy for months on end, and then the crash comes.

I have no doubts about how bi-polar disorder can ruin careers, relationships and lives in general. But it can be treated and managed. I am very moved by the people who submitted their stories on realLIVES. We need to stick together, enlighten more people, and erase some of the stigma regarding mental illness. Here's to good mental health.

One of my counselors used to say, "keep drumming your way to good mental health." I would also like to thank family, friends and mental health specialists who have helped me over the last decade.