I am not a psychiatrist, nor are any of your terribly wise friends and relatives. Hence my warning here: whatever you find on these pages, and on the sites you frequently will be referred to, is strictly intended as an aid in understanding and/or coming to terms with your, or a loved one's, manic depression. Your first step on the road to making peace with bipolar illness is to get a correct diagnosis: a task more difficult then one would think. Shall we begin then...?
Blessed by the Muse... 
personality is intense and can accomplish an incredible amount of work with little or no sleep when manic. They are frequently impatient with other's slowness, often thinking they can conquer the world. You'll find them prone to overgenerous behaviors, such as taking and paying for unexpected trips with friends and acquaintances; spending huge amounts of money on credit cards and in general being a bit of a challenge for the slower-moving folk of the world.
Think of bipolars as brilliant diamonds: when on a manic swing, like the breathtaking, icey diamond, they can be lovely to look at, but are capable of cutting through you as easily as a diamond will etch glass. Manic-depressives can be, and are, very charming, fascinating personalities, but there's always a yin for every yang isn't there?
his writing, and he would not relinquish his angst-ridden muse. So be it; one must have the courage of one's convictions. My friend is not the exception; his numbers are legion.
Some of the most brilliantly creative minds have suffered from either manic depression or clinical depression. The beauty of the work and the passion of the creation serve as bitter-sweet solace to the creator. One need not be a Van Gogh to ride the poetic tempest. What I most want you to know is that, while depression can fuel your creativity, creativity in itself shouldn't exact death as its price. Committing suicide is *NOT* a creative act; it's an act of desperation and pain.
Never hesitate to seek professional help when suicidal thoughts begin to be your constant companions. You are in bad shape at that point and ought not to trust your mind to think cleanly for you--GET HELP IMMEDIATELY! Nevertheless, the outlet provided by the artistic effort, however modest it may be, can provide comfort to many of us. In a sense, our creative noodlings are frequently a form of therapy, so be sure to visit the The Dragon's Weyr page and noodle away a bit. Use your browser back button to come back to this page and continue in sequence.
