tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457540561329963624.post8041222216346173817..comments2023-03-23T04:04:33.281-07:00Comments on Twin Cities Runner: Bipolar - Where I Am and WhyNate Leckbandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00540704170708498043noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457540561329963624.post-35946592866742605962016-10-31T14:05:09.046-07:002016-10-31T14:05:09.046-07:00Your post came across my Facebook feed -- that mea...Your post came across my Facebook feed -- that means we're somehow connected with some mutual Facebook friends -- that means I leave my post anonymously, so these comments can't be used in my current legal proceedings.<br /><br />I laud you for you frank openness about being bipolar. I've spent my adult life dodging questions, biting my tongue in the presence of hateful comments, and reluctantly receiving treatment when needed. My reluctance was recently substantiated when my wife filed for a divorce and has used my diagnosis of bipolar against me in court proceedings. In legal documents, she based her arguments for full custody of our children on the fact that I have a bipolar diagnosis and have been hospitalized. In negotiations since then, she has threatened to subpoena my medical records and use my diagnosis and treatment notes against me in court. To complicate the matters for me, our pastor essentially agreed with her decision to use my mental illness as a justification for divorce when he suggested that my actions could be considered abandoning my family. Talk about a test of faith.<br /><br />When you write of stigma, you write of something that is very real and very powerful.<br /><br />Anyway, I leave this post here because I allowed the stigma associated with bipolar to control me and force me to, at times, live a life that was never fully open. I lived in the fear that my bipolar diagnosis would be somehow be leveraged against me, and this became a self-fulfilling prophecy. For your sake and your family's, I hope your willingness to live in the open with your diagnosis frees you from the fear of the stigma that nearly destroyed my life.A loose connection with the same diagnosisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457540561329963624.post-48898277216170788712016-10-31T08:27:19.117-07:002016-10-31T08:27:19.117-07:00Thanks for sharing Nathan. I don't know many p...Thanks for sharing Nathan. I don't know many people with bipolar. It is always good to be able to put a face to this chronic mental illness and know that it is possible to manage it with the help of Jesus, family, friends and community as you mentioned. Your story is a real encouragement. - Danny EshcolDanny Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05314938285014683615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457540561329963624.post-91062076197557611452016-10-30T18:58:32.997-07:002016-10-30T18:58:32.997-07:00We know that God put you in our lives for a purpos...We know that God put you in our lives for a purpose and us in yours, also. We are very proud of you and Laura and how you function as an amazing team. Any time, any day, any where, what ever we can do to help.<br />David and Sharon Sharon Robrahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457540561329963624.post-46478000403253150812016-10-30T12:39:08.263-07:002016-10-30T12:39:08.263-07:00Thank you, Nathan, for sharing. It's great to...Thank you, Nathan, for sharing. It's great to know you are doing so well and have such a strong support system!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com