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Journey Not Chosen…Destination Not Known: Living with Bipolar Disorder
By Mary Worthen. Arkansas: August House Publishers, 2001, 111 pp., $9.95.
"On December 21, four days before Christmas, I was doing the hardest thing any mother would ever have to do: I was in probate court responding to the questions a judge asked me so they would be able to involuntarily admit and keep my daughter in the state hospital," writes Mary Worthen (p. 27). “When Kristy was asked if she had anything to say, in her delusional state, she held up a piece of paper on which she had scribbled the words, ‘I have the right to remain silent’”. Luckily, most families will never have to confront the issue of bipolar disorder in a courtroom, but the progression of this young woman's disease is not uncommon. The clarity, sensitivity and genuineness with which the mother and daughter describe their respective experiences makes for an easy, yet helpful resource for clients and their family and friends.
The structure of Journey Not Chosen is such that specific chapters may be more helpful for a specific audience, where as other sections may be informative to all readers. For example, two of the earlier sections, one written by the mother of the client and one written by the client herself, might be particularly helpful to the parents of a client or the client him or herself, respectively. Both sections are written in a narrative style, depicting the events and feelings each person felt as Kristy’s disease progressively worsened and, ultimately, treatment was received. One potential weakness of this book is almost insultingly simple—improper use of the English language that may be a distraction from the content for some readers. However, a young client or one without a high level of education will probably not be bothered by the language, and may therefore take away more meaningful information and advice from the pages. Sprinkled between memories and descriptions of Kristy’s ordeal are samples of her poetry, meant to reflect how delusional and grandiose she had become in her “darkest hours.” This poetry is another element that some readers may find helpful in relating to the mind of a person living with Bipolar Disorder, whereas others may find the interruption in text to be uncomfortable.
The next several chapters of the book are more factual and informative than the narrative, personal introductory sections. Ms. Worthen talks candidly about how this disorder affects family members and friends of the client, as well as suggesting what these people can do to better deal with the existence of bipolar disorder in their life. There is practical advice such as attending support group meetings, but most advice is of a more personal nature, simply sharing experiences such that a reader might know what to expect from his or her friend or family member with bipolar disorder. Again, these sections, although accurately informative, are written in a very simply language. A person with an extensive background in psychology or science might find it almost too simple, sometimes ignoring the complexity of these kinds of disorders. Someone dealing with mental illness for the first time, however, should find the reading helpful and not too overwhelming. What is also helpful, particularly to the client or family member/friend with little psychology or science background, is the glossary of terms in the back of the book. Definitions for words ranging from “side effect” to “serotonin” are provided. For the most part, these are words that may pop up frequently in the discussion of the disorder or in other reading materials, therefore it is helpful to have a concise collection of such terms. Moreover, Ms. Worthen has compiled a list of “Educational Materials”. In short, this section includes a list of professional organizations that are helpful in acquiring information about bipolar disorder, as well as a short description of the various titles found in the mental health profession. Often, it is confusing to distinguish a psychologist from a psychiatrist, or a counselor from an LCSW. In simple terms, Ms. Worthen differentiates between them, teasing apart the titles and the responsibilities each person can take on. Lastly, Ms. Worthen addresses an issue that many families dealing with bipolar disorder (or many other disorders, for that matter) will soon discover: the cost to medicate. The final pages of the book are devoted to listing dozens of pharmaceutical companies and the respective telephone numbers for “free medication programs”. Assuming a client’s family qualifies, some medications can be provided free of charge to the client, thereby easing one aspect of the stress associated with having a mental illness in the family. Financial strain is a very real issue, and it is helpful to both the client and the therapist to have this reference list.
Overall, the language and writing used in this book may be a drawback for some readers, but for others, the simplicity of the writing may be helpful. The author certainly keeps the issues clear and elementary, and to many people, this style of writing may be the best choice, particularly for a first-time exposure to mental illness or introductory level material on this particular disorder. This book could be shared with a client or a client’s family/friends, because it covers many bases. To the psychotherapist, it is helpful to have a single resource from which to pull so many aspects. Journey Not Chosen certainly serves a very useful purpose by providing good information about bipolar disorder to a diverse audience. It could be easily integrated into a psychotherapist’s practice, offered as a simple and informative resource for clients new to the realm of bipolar disorder. If given as a homework assignment, sections of this book may spark thoughts or questions previously not considered by the client. Often times, if nothing else, it is helpful to simply know other people experienced what the client is currently feeling. It helps to not feel alone. This book ties several peoples’ experiences together that may be shared and discussed in psychotherapy, and serve as a vehicle by which to discuss important issues and feelings surrounding bipolar disorder that many clients will likely experience.