Quotes from John McManamy

As long as I'm rested, as long as I'm not overstimulated, as long as I can space out my day, I can count on my brain reasonably cooperating with me.

Other people make plans. We make life-or-death risk assessments. Often, our illness mandates that we play it safe, not tempt fate. But if we don't take risks, we lose out on all those life-affirming experiences that define us as human.

Call it the bipolar's dilemma: Take a chance and we risk losing control of our brains. Play it safe and we isolate ourselves from humanity.

As a general rule, if you're holding down a job it's best to lie low and keep your mouth shut.

On average, we spend far more of our time in depression than we do in mania or hypomania—by a ratio of three to one for those with bipolar I, according to a major 2003 study. Estimates go much higher for those with bipolar II.