US 'N' U

One of the most difficult things to admit after experiencing mania is that part of me misses it. When people hear about manic episodes, they often focus on the consequences. They hear about the psychosis, the hospitalisation, the damaged relationships, the financial problems, the impulsive decisions, and the loss of insight. Those consequences are real. I experienced many of them myself during my major manic and psychotic episode in 2023. Yet there is another side to the stor

Being treated and being heard are two different things. It is one thing to be given medication and have your symptoms reduced; being heard is another thing entirely. Being heard means that you are listened to, validated, and that your situation is acknowledged for what it is. Treatment focuses on the illness. Being heard focuses on the person experiencing the illness. When people enter mental health services, they are often experiencing some of the most difficult moments of t

I was going through a rough time before my episode. I had lost two jobs, and I was experiencing what I described in The Dialectics of Mania as being "beyond the depths of despair." I guess you have to go back before I became hypermanic, around nine months before the episode, to really know what I would tell myself. I would have said: "Slow the hell down. You are burning out from the inside. It's time to take a break." I had to lose two jobs to realise it was time to step back

I see lived experience as a form of leadership. The lived experience movement is transforming mental health systems around the world for a reason. People who have lived through mental health challenges, psychiatric treatment, recovery, and the day-to-day realities of living with a mental health condition possess a form of knowledge that cannot be learned from a textbook. This does not diminish the importance of clinical expertise. Clinicians bring valuable knowledge, training

The most difficult chapter to write in The Dialectics of Mania was the chapter entitled Chaos. At the time, I had experienced a difficult Christmas and was driving down the Pacific Highway back to Sydney when I had what I can only describe as a break from reality. Chaos is the only word that seems to fit. No moment seemed connected to the next. One moment I felt excited and full of possibility. A few seconds later, I was overwhelmed by fear. Then came confusion. Then hope. Th

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is one of Australia's most important social reforms. For many people living with disabilities, it has provided access to supports that were previously unavailable, allowing people to live more independently, participate in their communities, and improve their quality of life. However, the NDIS is facing growing concerns about sustainability. Much of the public discussion has focused on rising costs, with governments looking for

It shouldn't make a significant difference whether a psychiatric ward is public or private. While resources may vary, both systems should be guided by the same fundamental principles: safety, dignity, recovery, collaboration, and hope. When I moved from Nepean Psychiatric Hospital to the Hills Clinic following my manic and psychotic episode in 2023, the difference was striking. My experience in the public system was one of isolation. Although allied health staff visited the w