Book gives hope to depressives

A FORMER manic depressive has published an e-book to give an insight into her psychotic state of mind and to show sufferers there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lesley Watson, of Jackmans Place in Letchworth GC, first became ill with the birth of her first child in 1989. She also became ill after having her second child and in 1992 was diagnosed with manic depression.

The 39-year-old mother-of-four said: "My book, Through the Eyes of a Manic, is the vivid memory of the psychotic state of mind I experienced after the birth of my first child.

"I try to explain how it actually feels to be manic. My mind had taken me into a wild dimension and a frightening and frustrating place. I wouldn't respond to any medication and I didn't sleep for three and a half weeks.

"I was that ill that I was dribbling and shuffling my feet. I think the worst thing was remembering my mother and father coming to visit and seeing their little girl like that, but as much as I tried to communicate with them I couldn't."

With support from her second husband, Mrs Watson made a good recovery from her illness and has been well now for almost seven years. She has been off medication for three years.

She said: "In my book I explain how I felt trapped with nowhere to turn. I explain how I felt and writing everything down helped me and put everything into perspective in my own mind.

"I feel doctors have little understanding of the illness and psychiatrists treat you with drugs and I had electric shock treatment - electroconvulsive treatment - which pushes things to the back of the mind until it all comes out, all at once, in a manic episode.

"The book is to tell people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I hope doctors will read it and get an insight into the illness."

For a copy of the e-book, which costs £3, visit www.chipmunkapublishing.co.uk