Ron Cottle was a successful businessman and a popular public speaker, receiving numerous awards both for his career achievements and his generous service to the community.

Then he developed the symptoms of bipolar disorder, a disabling and serious condition, manifesting itself with cycles of manic episodes and depressive periods. Sometimes extreme manic or cycles can include high risk behaviors, grandiose thinking, and disastrous business and financial decisions. Extreme cycles of either mania or depression can produce hallucinations and delusions.

So disruptive are these symptoms that suicide is the leading cause of premature death among bipolar individuals; 15 to 17 percent of bipolar individuals commit suicide.
Although medications can help with managing symptoms, the medications have such problematic side effects (such as inability to feel pleasure) that compliance with medications is quite low.

Bipolar has generally been considered a chronic or permanent condition. The National Institute of Mental Health states that “Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime”, and “Bipolar disorder tends to worsen if it is not treated,”

For Ron, the disorder devastated his career, and placed enormous stress on his family. Determined to get his life back, and to transcend the limitations of the traditional medications, Ron began a journey that would take him into the leadership of a mental health recovery group, the exploration of a broad variety of alternative treatments, and the development of a very personal structure of mental discipline.

Join us this week as Ron Cottle and his wife Lois share the challenges and discoveries of Ron’s journey back from bipolar disorder.

For more information about Recovery International, go to lowselfhelpsystems.org