My Bipolar Journey

I never dreamt in a million years that I would ever be in prison. But due to a shortage of beds at the psychiatric hospital, I was sent to jail for 24 days. Needless to say, I was horrified. You’ve heard all the stories. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Because of my age (65), I was safe; the other inmates made it clear that no one would bother me. A sigh of relief. The inmates are respectful, kind and also take great care in the cleanliness of their cell. There is one leader in a cellblock of about 25 inmates. I only saw one physical incident when one of the inmates defied the leader; he was taken care of and I will let your imagination fill in the blanks.

Going to jail while in a manic episode is a recognized consequence of bipolar disorder, occurring when symptoms lead to impulsive, illegal actions. Approximately 10–13% of people with bipolar disorder report legal involvement during their most severe manic episodes. Common charges stem from behaviors such as sexual disinhibition, erratic behavior, violent outbursts, or financial, according to Psychiatry Online.

I met several very interesting people. One young kid who would get me my Splenda every morning. I found out that he killed someone but wouldn’t share the details. One gentleman who exercised feverishly every day who was a male stripper. One you kid who couldn’t read or write and grew up with no parents in foster care. Talk about the odds being stacked against you. And my closest friend who was an expert in digital marketing. The feeling of being behind bars is surreal. The feeling of being released is incredible.