Editor’s note: The following is a comment from malibutimes.com in response to the article “Fit to serve, Peak says,” July 26, 2012]
Bravo to Skylar Peak! I commend you so much for being “out” about having bipolar disorder and for asserting that you are mentally fit to serve on the council.
I grew up in Pacific Palisades, the daughter of a manic depressive first violinist in the L.A. Philharmonic who was lauded by Leonard Bernstein for his musical genius. Many people in that orchestra have mood disorders as well as in all branches of the entertainment industry. This is a well-documented fact (see Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison’s “Touched With Fire”).
I, too, have bipolar disorder. I am a very successful University of California college graduate, and have been happily married for over a decade with two remarkable little girls. I founded the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) Chapter of Santa Cruz County, which offers free, peer-run support groups to those with mood disorders.
I’m sure a good part of the Los Angeles population has bipolar disorder and they don’t have the ability to be open about their disorder for many good reasons, sadly, mainly due to the social stigma. People with bipolar are known to be unusually talented.
Like Skylar, I take lithium. I take 900 mg a day, and I fall within the therapeutic range as far as blood levels go (I used to take 1200). I just wanted to take a little less as long as my blood levels were safe.
If you have bipolar disorder or know someone who does, and you need support, please contact NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and/or DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).
Be proud of who you are. People with bipolar disorder are no different than those with cancer or diabetes. Stop the stigma!
Dyane Leshin-Harwood