HYPOMANIC Mad in England, A memoir. (eBook)
by Victor J Kennedy (Author)

ISBN: Pending
Publisher: Chipmunka Publishing
First Published: 2007
Pages: 320
Key Themes: hypomania, mania, psychosis, bi-polar, manic depression, hospitalisation, recovery

Description

Hypomanic is one person's vivid account of how they became aware of the existence of Hypomania through excessive study & the experimentation of recreational drugs inside a hedonistic orientated work life balance. As with many misery memoirs, the protagonist has to be destroyed before finding redemption and therefore unveiling the insights to successfully overcoming the adversity. In this case, which is pre-diagnosis of bipolar by almost eighteen months, the book will demonstrate the full anatomy of a nervous breakdown from a holistic point of view and across a wide range of issues. It is written in the first person as a diary account of what happened to the author age 22 while at University and why he thinks it happened, looking back at 1995, fifteen years post event and with a diagnosis of bipolar. There are also detailed accounts of what roles close friends and family members played during the downfall and subsequent comeback of the main character. It is not a self help book per se, it belongs among the story section because this book enthralls as much as it educates. It is a message to healthy young people with hedonistic outlooks, their friends and their families. It is a classic clinical scenario of exactly what happens to everyone involved with a stress induced Hypomanic episode and therefore how to avoid the experience before it happens or prepare for coping with it, if a diagnosis of bipolar has already occurred.

 
Price: £10
Format: eBook (Paperback)
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.3 inch
Language: English
 
About the Author

Born in Bradford West Yorkshire, a qualified Information Designer he has worked successfully as an award winning Digital Art Director within London Advertising Agencies for over ten years, generating online solutions for many distinguished global brands. Diagnosed with Bipolar affective disorder in 1996 after returning to University to complete the degree interrupted by the initial nervous breakdown. Between February 1995 and March 2000 he has suffered five hospitalisations in Cumbrian psychiatric wards, one of which was a twenty eight day section under the mental health act. After losing half a decade and causing immeasurable pain to his family, he took the decision not to be defeated by the illness or the stigma he felt was causing his life to stall. He decided return to anonymity in London where he could focus on his mental well-being, kick-start his career in Advertising and most of all to write Hypomanic. Since March 2000 he has not been hospitalised a single time, although he has coped with numerous relapses and further Hypomanic episodes by using NHS crisis teams and Haloperidol PRN to get through the tougher times. He has been an active member of Islington MDF group since 2001 and has studied his illness to develop coping mechanisms which do not involve medication. However, he is an advocate of Lithium and continues with the mood stabiliser under the proverb, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This strategy above all has given him half a decade of quality life, which he may not have had without psychiatrists finding a therapeutic level suitable to his biological makeup.

“This is a memoir I’ve wanted to write since 1997 and now I feel there is enough distance between me, the event and the high emotions to do it justice. It is my account of living with a controlled, but ultimately incurable mental illness, which if read, may help someone else that is seeking to better understand and cope with the frustrating road to wellness. I’ve found in my personal journey that it’s really nice to read something that makes you feel less alone. ”
Victor J Kennedy
 
 
 

Overview

An event can last a million years in someone's head. To other witnesses the same event simply doesn’t bear the same prevalence. This is a story about three young people leaving home for the first time and meeting at University in London. It's a very exciting time to be a student of the arts. Britain leads the world again in music, fashion and film. It is the naughty nineties, the decade we all got sorted for E's and Whizz. The birth of the commercial internet is imminent.

Nathan's story
Nathan was brought up in Weybridge to wealthy parents and public school. He was the youngest of three, with two older sisters who had already flown the nest. He was a naturally gifted child and had developed his talent for analysis into the design field, specifically for print. Nathan was so confident in his own ability he could spend more time on his social life and the degree would take care of itself. That said, he was competitive and very used to pulling the strings. After 6th form the family relocated to Rickmanthsworth and this geography influenced his choice of the Harrow Campus of the University of Westminster.

Tanya's story
Tanya was the quintessential Essex girl. Brought up in leafy Buckhurst Hill to loving parents. She was the eldest of three. She had a sister and a baby brother to look after so had developed a maternal instinct. For such a beautiful girl she was very insecure. This need to be loved was manifesting itself as codependency, the need to be caring and kind. She too had a creative streak, a flair for fashion had erupted from her bottom drawer. Even though she appeared as a thoughtful matriarch, she liked to take risks. She was not reckless but she enjoyed sensory stimulation. Just out of college, completing a BTEC locally in Essex, Tanya had not yet lived away from home. Harrow was perfect because it was not too far away from the support of her family. The ones who'll unconditionally be there for you, through thick and thin.

Victor’s story
Victor was not a native of the South East. He was brought up in Bradford, West Yorkshire to an insurance broker and a hospital clerk. He had an older sister who excelled in academics and music. He was the youngest, the one not up to much who was left to his own devices. This meant he and his friends had developed imaginations on the back fields of South Bradford. They’d play football and mess around until eventually they began stealing. At 16 when his sister went off to University, his father relocated to an insurance position in Kendal. The huge upheaval 65 miles north to the Lake District changed Victor’s life. He left school and began a career in the only thing he knew best, Graphic Design. After 3 years and extra curricular studies, plus a foundation course, Victor was accepted second choice at Harrow, 250 miles from home. He knew he had the talent and this was his chance to finally make something of himself. This desire was only matched by his excitement at being in London, which in his eyes was the centre of the Universe. The place where big things can happen to anyone. The most powerful society in the world.

The anatomy of a nervous breakdown
One of these people will unravel during the three years at University. The other two will play their part. The action takes place through the eyes of Victor as the story unfolds. It will reveal his destiny through internal dialogue and motivations. The reader will find out what a nervous breakdown feels like.
As much as it is a personal and private experience, there is a responsibility to be uncovered, not just for the individual who breaks down but for all of us. When you go to University you want a degree, a good time and lifelong friends. The last thing anyone wants is a nervous breakdown. So if the bullet in the gun is your genes, then your environment must be the trigger. But what happens when the victim is you?

A University campus is a controlled environment much like a psychiatric ward is a controlled environment. Unlike patients, students are not under observation or any care programme. They are left to their own devices. They are classified as adults because the law defines 18 as adulthood. There is no adult classification for emotional intelligence.

 
 
 
Book Extract

It seemed so simple, so obvious the more and more I thought about it. I spent the next few hours as the sun came up, preparing for the break out, exactly how I was going to set these girls free and get that pervert locked up once and for all. I didn’t once think through the realistic consequences before I acted. I just jumped up out of the bed and locked the bedroom door from the inside, then pulled out the key holding it tightly in my fist. I moved towards the window and dragged Tanya’s dressing table to one side to get the larger window open. Tanya woke up at this point with a startled request, “Vic, what on earth are you doing?” I jumped on the bed and put one hand over her mouth and the other towards mine, two fingers over my lips to confirm I needed silence and this really was vital. I then gestured her towards the end of the bed to make sure she was away from the drill hole, then it was safe to talk. I whispered, “There’s a madman upstairs and he’s holding Cathy hostage.”
“Have you been taking something?” she frowned.
“No, nothing. Look, I’ve been listening to him raping her all night. I’ve not slept a wink, I just couldn’t.”
Tanya took evasive action. She tried the locked door and started shouting through the walls, “Sam! Cathy! Shelly! Miriam! Can someone please come up with the spare key to my room please?!”
“What are you doing that for? He’s just gonna come down with a knife to Cathy’s throat.” I pleaded.
“You’re not well Vic.” She shouted.
“I’m fine but you’ve got to trust me on this one.” I moved towards the window again and this time opened it wide. I looked out and saw some school kids going to school and a milkman so I thought I would do some shouting aswell, “Oi! MATE! LOOK! HERE, AT THE WINDOW! CALL THE POLICE, THERE’S A MADMAN IN THE HOUSE!!” The response was not good enough for my liking and now the girls were all outside Tanya’s bedroom door. I picked up a pint glass with Tanya’s water in and threw it far out on to the road, where it smashed. “Oi, MATE!” I threw another glass, a perfume bottle and a coffee cup, “Oi! CALL THE COPS NOW!!!” Tanya was crying now, screaming at the girls through the door, “Where’s the flaming key? You’ve gotta let me out, he’s throwing my stuff out the window!”
“We can’t find the key Tanya, who did you give it to?”
“It’s in Miranda’s room on the window sill.” I left the window and calmly walked up to Tanya by the door. She slid downwards on to her knees in terror. I lent over her and whispered, “It’s pointless asking them, he’s with them and he’s got a knife to Cathy’s throat. Don’t worry, I’m gonna climb out the window and get help.” I moved towards the window and Tanya shouted, “Quick, he’s jumping out of the window!” As I looked down I could see Cathy’s Land Rover parked right under the window. It was not more than six feet below on to it’s roof. I could make it easily I thought, so I dangled my legs out but Cathy came running out with her car keys. “What are you doing Cathy? Be careful.” I warned her.
 

I bought this because I thought it looked interesting. And it was. It’s one of the only books that I have laughed out loud for ages at, and it’s both hilariously written and touching, emotive and sad all at the same time. The characters are endearing and you can’t help but empathise and it got me so wrapped in the plot I missed my bus stop more times than enough. Brilliant book. Couldn't put it down. B.Orihuela

Victor has written in unusual memoir about his struggle with bipolar disorder. It's unusual because the style of writing and method of storytelling are both a bit eccentric. This is fine with me but some readers may have a problem with it. I'm a sucker for memoirs and find that they provide insight into mental illness that no textbook will ever capture. Furthermore, I find that every mental illness memoir author has a unique contribution to make. With these two points in mind, I'd recommend this memoir to anyone suffering from bipolar disorder. A.Ferguson
 
HYPOMANIC and all HYPOMANIC character names and distinctive likenesses thereof: TM & © Victor Kennedy.
All Rights Reserved. HYPOMANIC: Trademarks registered in the UK and certain other countries.
© 2006 Victor Kennedy. All rights reserved.