Autobiography of a Repaired Physician (eBook)

The Autobiography of a Repaired Physician : Mental Health as Seen from Both Sidesof the Desk is a trilogy. Book I deals with my life before, during and after the emergence ofan attack of bipolar disorder. The shattering consequences of the disorder and the personalhistory that precede it are discussed in great clinical and personal detail. My chief concern isthat the reader comprehend how the past, present, and future come into play in understandingthe outcome in the treatment of this destructive and deadly disease. Book II concerns the social stigma associated with having a history of the disorder andthe many pitfalls clinically, psychologically and socially that exist for an individual, such asmyself who is charged with the professional responsibility of caring for people suffering fromsimilar affl ictions. Book III is about my adventures in the real world as I have seen it. It relates to themadness of our world in which the ever present and infuriating search for power prestige andpossessions appear unfortunately to be the primary determinants of behavior in our society. Many of my closest friends have tried to dissuade me from writing about this issuebecause they feared I would be exposing myself to further social stigma. I feel strongly thatthose who have suffered from the destructive effects of the spectrum of bipolar disorder mustknow how treatment works and what pitfalls to avoid in treatment. As a physician it is myduty to heal myself and with the help of some very talented colleagues. I have been able to dojust that. My struggle continues and in that sense more books will be written. I would like to especially acknowledge the help of my wife Barbara, who has stuck withme through thick and thin, and my children Miranda, Alexander and Victoria who love eachother and me.