“I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in my early 20’s. Since then I have been hospitalized 15 times. There is nothing this illness hasn’t cost me. I have lost relationships, jobs, self-esteem, a feeling that my life will be O.K. Most people with my illness do not work, yet I have a very sophisticated job.
“Through mindfulness I have learned that I can take care of myself, I can observe myself and what’s happening with empathy, and the effect on my health is measurable: I have been able to reduce the amount of medication I take significantly!
“I look to the skills I learned as gifts and I will treasure them. Thank you, I got much more than I bargained for!”