A Bipolar Life Well-Lived

It never dawned on me that I was getting ill, but what was happening to me was very real. Living in a world of make-believe, I was convinced my imaginary visions were genuine. I had delusions of grandeur, thinking I was all-powerful and the centre of everything. But I was not a monster; I was a lost soul. My story involves a struggle with mania and depression in the context of my life in England and France. How, despite my handicap, I held down a job abroad for 8 years and how, after 8 years of marriage to a Frenchman, I supported my daughter as a single parent. My memoir gives insight into living with mental illness. It is an autobiography concerned with memories of childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

At three years old, in 1962 Samantha and her family relocated from Belfast to the south of England. She achieved a BA Honours degree in Philosophy and French in 1981. Thereafter she lived in Provence teaching English at a nuclear research centre for eight years. In the advanced stages of pregnancy, she sought refuge with her mother and father who helped her to establish a new life as a mother, a single parent, and a part-time teacher. Since her second year at university when Samantha suffered a near fatal traffic accident, her health deteriorated significantly, and she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

In recent years Samantha has been closely involved in caring for her elderly parents. She is now a loving mother and grandmother.

Customer Reviews

5.0

4 reviews

Louise Mole-Replacement

Thank you, Jocelyn, for giving me the honour of reading and reviewing your book. It was an excellent read and clearly outline your experiences. I believe your book will give hope and reassurance to others with mental health conditions and inspire others who read it that life can be great and you are not defined by illness but by hope and love.
Christine Bates

An informative and detailed read on life with a serious mental health disorder. Samantha outlines her life from her early days through school, onto University, moving abroad, becoming a mother, all interspersed with episodes of mental health and breakdown. Life does not always treat her well and when things start to go wrong they often trigger complete breakdown and a need for hospitalisation. Sometimes it appears that she is her own worst enemy indulging in drugs and alcohol or was this just a way of dealing with the disorder. A temporary fix for how she was feeling. A serious traffic accident in her twenties undoubtedly contributed to her illness and she must wonder how her life may have been very different if this had not happened Little is made of her hospitalisation and the constant battle to find the right drugs with sometimes the side affects being worse than the disorder. More is made for her striving to move on from her relationships and her career. What is clear that when Samantha was well she could cope with relationships, jobs and living abroad setting up her own home. However as cracks appeared the her mental health spiralled with often disastrous consequences. It is also very apparent that Samantha was loved and supported by many but also let down by others. Her parents never gave up on her and it was clear that when they needed care in later life Samantha was able to care for them and with the help of her sisters made important decisions about their care and return their love. I enjoyed reading about her early time in France and taking on that brave decision to strike out on her own after her semi -recovery from her accident. I was compelled to read on and learn about her adventures through life. Losing love but regaining it with such a supportive partner who has helped her get through the highs and lows of her life. Samantha has had to deal with so much but has learnt to live with her limitations and appreciate the good things in life too. A much loved daughter ,sister , mother and wife.
Christine Bates

I like her approach because she outlines the story without giving too much away. I would be pleased if you could put her review on my website.
Alison

An insightful, very readable autobiography, which gives some understanding of the struggles involved with living with bipolar and what manic episodes involve. Shocking to hear of medical treatments in the 1980’s . The book pulls you along, always hoping for a happy ending.