Life can hold rich possibilities even for those with a mental illness. Learning to live with a mood disorder is something people do gradually, as life unfolds. Bit by bit they begin to recognise the symptoms. Gradually they begin to manage their illness. Marja Bergen is one of those people. Over the 30 years that she has had manic depression, she has gradually adopted a lifestyle that makes it possible not only to cope, but to live a full and productive life. In 'Riding the Roller Coaster', she shares some very practical tips, including escaping the blues before they grab you, what to do when you don't feel like doing anything, and keeping life stable. But there are obstacles. There is a social stigma attached to mental illness. Marja Bergen believes that this stigma can be overcome. It is a matter of accepting mental illness as an illness like any other. It is a matter of attitude. The attitude of individuals with a mental illness -- toward themselves, toward their illness and toward their potential makes a great deal of difference. To become really well, a person must work hard to improve their own life. something to happen, and Marja Bergen writes with warmth and eloquence about how to do exactly that.
