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My name is Lori Brown. I am 32 years old.

I am a mom, office manager, choir member and photographer.

I am also bipolar.

For many years of my young life, I struggled with untreated manic depression. At the age of 24, I finally became so ill that I was hospitalized for almost two months. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. This hospitalization saved my life.

At the time of what I refer to as my most significant breakdown, I was diagnosed as major depressive. Two years later, I was more correctly diagnosed as bipolar. At that time, I began to make significant progress due to a successful combination of medication and therapy. I worked very, very hard to get better.

And I did.

When I was 27, I became pregnant with my daughter, Em. While pregnant, I made the decision to stop taking my medication and never went back on it. Because my recovery had been so successful, I did very well without medication for several years.

Until this year.

In August of 2008, I experienced my second most significant breakdown. It was a breakdown that incapacitated me for two months. On some level, it still continues to incapacitate me now.

But it was the also the catalyst for this blog.

One week into this episode, I began keeping daily updates of what it was like for me. I documented my reintroduction to medication and recovery.

Mixed in with the updates are “flashbacks” from my past experiences as well. I also sneak in random thoughts and even some bad poetry here and there.

On the pitchers page, I share some of my photography which can also be seen throughout my different posts.

The reason I write this blog is so that other people who may be experiencing similar things will know they are not alone. And that it is possible to get better. And I also write it for people who have no idea what it’s like…so they may understand.

If you want to show your support for me, the best way you can do so is by subscribing to my blog. Adding me to your blogroll. Leaving comments. I truly appreciate every one of my readers!

Love to you all,

Lori