The Journey Home: Recovery from Bipolar
Like so many of the millions of people in this world, I too have struggled with mental illness in my life. But I’ll never forget how I felt when my doctor said “Patrick was a high functioning individual before his diagnosis. There’s no reason to believe he won’t be able to achieve that same level of success moving forward in life”. These hopeful words allowed me to see how I could regain control of my life and learn to manage my symptoms during the onset of my illness. Now, after years of dedicated work and close compliance with my treatment plan, I have made a full recovery from my bipolar disorder. I stand as an example that those living with mental illness can have a successful life.
In December of 2017, while I was living with my family in Chicago, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My bipolar disorder was brought out by the surmounting stress of my sister’s substance abuse problem. Though my bipolar had been diagnosed, it was not being treated effectively at the time. Struggling with my own mental health and needing to be away from my sister’s challenges, I decided to move back to Washington state, where I had been living months before. While moving, I had my first and only psychotic break with reality and ended up in an altercation with a homeowner and was arrested. Shortly after, I received the harrowing news that my sister had died by suicide. My life was in ruins and it all happened in just a few short months.
I returned home knowing one thing. I knew I needed to take my mental illness seriously. Thanks to a referral from NAMI Chicago, I enrolled in Northwestern’s “Recovery from Early Psychosis” program which proved to make the difference. First, I realized that I was not alone. There were hundreds of stories of young persons who had experienced psychotic-breakdowns and went on to be successful. I met a documentary filmmaker who struggled with psychosis in his youth. It was these types of people who demonstrated that my future could be bright. I also learned the importance of taking medication while living with mental illness. When I was placed on a therapeutic dose of medication, it felt like the difference between night and day. I felt my mood becoming stable and I regained the confidence to start looking for a job. To this day, I consider medication the greatest lifeline for anyone living with mental illness. The program also taught coping skills, how to correct thinking errors, and encouraged wellness habits. After months of learning and hard work, I finished the program and was ready to move forward with my life.
In the years leading up to my mental breakdown, I had worked as a Park Ranger for the Forest Service and the National Park Service in five different states. My long-term goal was to return to work with the National Park Service. In 2022, having four years of tremendous health under my belt, I accepted a job in my dream location: Yosemite National Park, where I spent time working on trails and talking with visitors in the iconic Yosemite Valley as well as in remote areas of the Park’s wilderness. Thanks to my commitment to my mental health, I had managed to regain what I had lost. In time, I was yearning for a more urban landscape. I transferred to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, where I became involved in charitable organizations volunteering addressing issues such as homelessness, food security, and education in the community.
Today, I am furthering my life’s journey back home in Chicago by pursuing a Master’s Degree from DePaul University in History. The decision is monumental not only because of its tremendous undertaking, but because my sister too attended DePaul. In more ways than one, I am walking in my sister’s footsteps. Dedicating the next few years of my life to finishing her work in Chicago. Although I have suffered because of my mental illness, I refuse to allow the events of my past to determine my future. Not only have I been able to regain control of my life, I have been able to push myself beyond the limits of what I thought was once possible. Like so many other people who live with mental illness, I too am another example that making a full recovery is possible.
-Patrick Linstrom
NAMI Chicago is committed to advocating for and increasing access to evidence-based programs that effectively treat early psychosis. Early intervention is critical - getting help as soon as possible significantly increases the chances of recovery.