General Martin shows that seeking help for bipolar disorder is a sign of strength
Gregg F. Martin, Major General, US Army (Retired)
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This is the sixth and final part of a six part series written by retired 2 star general Gregg Martin.
Bipolar disorder can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, education, or class, from preteens to age 60.
It is an equal opportunity disorder and can, at its worst, destroy lives and health, marriages and families, careers, friendships, finances, and more.
Many people with bipolar disorder are not as lucky as I am.
Between 25 and 50 percent of the more than five million people with bipolar disorder in the US attempt suicide at least once.
Eight percent manage to commit suicide, and the suicide rate for people with bipolar disorder is four times that of the general population.
Although it is not known how many active duty military may have bipolar disorder, data suggests that as many as 700,000 veterans are living with it.
General Martin’s previous columns:
Part 5:The road to recovery was paved by relatives, friends, colleagues.
Part 4:After relinquishing command, bipolar battle entered hopelessness, depression
Part 3:General Martin: How Bipolar Disorder Helped a Military Leader Decorate (Until He Wasn’t)
Part 2:General recalls the day the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff forced him to retire
Part 1:Diagnosis of bipolar disorder ended a major general’s decorated career, but saved his life
Deciding to share my bipolar disorder story publicly is serious business, but something I had to do.
I argue that seeking mental health treatment should be destigmatized and treated in the same way that our culture treats cancer, diabetes, or a broken leg.
With physical illnesses, we tend to recognize the symptoms, get medical help, recover, and get on with our lives.
We do not (usually) blame or shame the sick or injured person for their illness.
In most cases, we love them, support them, and help them recover.
However, with mental illness, we often wait for people to fail before giving them the help they need.
How is it that failure, often with permanent family, legal, social, professional or academic consequences, tends to be the first and only indicator of brain disease? How can we change this?
In my opinion, we need more scientific research on bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses, brain health in general, and the “invisible wounds of war.”
We must identify early warning genetic markers, find causes, understand disease mechanisms, and develop preventative drugs and better recovery treatments.
We need earlier identification of symptoms and even possible cures.
This research is vital to our society, especially, I believe, to our veteran population and our serving military.
Also, how can we accommodate people who have these diseases so they can continue their careers?
There are a few examples of medical and academic professions finding ways to do this.
Johns Hopkins University professor of psychiatry Kay Redfield Jamison, for example, has suffered from severe bipolar disorder for decades, but figured out how to manage it and perform at a world-class level as a psychiatrist and academic.
Could other professions follow suit?
Millions continue to suffer.
Worse still, their suffering is compounded by the stigma that many members of our society continue to attach to brain disease.
By some grim coincidence, I finally found myself sane enough to begin telling my story during the worst public health crisis of our time.
But even when the pandemic is over, our mental health crisis will remain, and it even seems to have gotten worse.
What you can do
If you or someone you love is showing warning signs of bipolar disorder or another serious mental illness, seek medical help immediately.
Involve your medical professionals: Understand that bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose, can be mixed and intertwined with other brain diseases and personality traits, and can take years to properly diagnose and treat.
Read, study and learn everything you can about bipolar and mental disorder in general. Fully commit to this effort. Knowledge is power.
Once your medication and treatment are prescribed, stick with it and have an informed dialogue with your doctor and therapist.
Prepare to be obedient for life.
Bipolar disorder never takes a break, and neither do you.
Like me, you may find yourself in an “eternal war” that you can’t get out of or walk away from, with no potentially disastrous results.
However, the good news is that bipolar disorder is a treatable medical condition.
With the right treatment and a determined attitude, it is possible for many people with bipolar disorder to live successful and happy lives.
It takes courage and strength to admit that you need help, to get it, and to walk the road to recovery.
I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be a bipolar survivor and thriving.
In fact, I am grateful and proud to have survived the toughest of battles, with the support of my wife, family, friends, the VA, and Grace, and to be thriving once again, with the unexpected gift of a great new life
Gregg Martin is an Army combat veteran, a retired 2-star general, and a survivor and prosperous bipolar. Formerly president of the National Defense University, he is a qualified airborne engineer and graduate of West Point and MIT. He lives in Cocoa Beach.