Invisible Driving

Invisible Driving is a round-trip ticket to the almost unimaginably foreign world of Manic Depression. It was begun fast on the heels of my third major manic episode. Crushed, terrified, and lost, I sifted through rubble for facts that could help me chronicle the mad, electrifying roller coaster ride of recent months. It was clear my illness was bent on destroying me; to recover I first had to understand it.

As the surreal details came into focus, I set my sights higher. By recreating the mercurial quality of manic thought and speech, and chronicling the hilarious and bizarre behavior that characterize mania, I constructed an unprecedented insider’s view. It wasn’t enough to describe the circus; I was determined to take readers along so they could smell the sawdust for themselves.

Last came the most important challenge, understanding the psychological architecture that made me susceptible. Manic Depression springs from genetics, emotional state, and experience; it was essential to map the episode’s events back to demons within. The relationship between the manic episode and its psychological context will be of particular interest to those who want to learn more about Manic Depression.