At the upcoming Mariposa County Mental Health Board meeting on Thursday, November 5 at 12:00 p.m. Mariposa County resident Bob Linneman will present, "I Own It" a tell-all show about his own personal experience.
The Mariposa County Mental Health Board meeting is held in the Mariposa room inside the Human Services Building, 5362 Lemee Lane, Mariposa, CA. 95338. (The new large green building on Highway 49 North)
"It will be a painful, hopeful and very real look at bipolar disorder presented by one with inside knowledge" (he's suffered for years and is now ready to be open and help educate and do his part to end stigmas,) said Mr.
Linneman, "This will not be a lecture. It will not be clinical in any way. The clinicians and others will be on the listening end. And there are things they need to hear. This is intended to be a free-form, no-holds-barred, down deep on a human level look at the insidious nature of an illness no doctor, no therapist, not even Dr. Phil knows a thing about. No questions refused, regardless of how personal. The goal is to advocate and that can't be done without full disclosure and frank honesty. You have to own one of these horror shows to really know, and I will take you all the way: from a 10-day torture chamber of depression and insomnia, to an in detail glimpse at what a serious manic attack is like, and just how easily one can lose control."Mr. Linneman will be discussing only his bipolar experience, as the illness is as unique as an individual's brain.
Choose compassion and come and learn like never before. A special invitation is extended to those with bipolar who would like to see someone who after more than a decade in denial finally choose fight over flight. And he's winning.
Contact the Mariposa County Human Services Director's office to assure a seat. Phone: (209) 966-2000 or (800) 549-6741.
A Note from Bob:
Does the word bipolar cause a snap reaction: Spree shooters and the like. Well, those are anomalies. I suffer bipolar and I'm just like everyone else as I manage it and make sure at various times during the day nothing is on the horizon. The past six months have seen remarkable change in how I deal with it using my own ideas (I do not see a therapist but talk to people I trust and are positive and life-affirming. Change in bipolar perception is coming. Fighting it is painful but far better than living in a hole. Despite the toll it takes in fighting it, I'm in control and at noon, November 5th, at Human Services I'm going to do a tell-all show dubbed "I Own It". And I do. No more denial. The fear, stigma and isolation are gone for me -- and I don't care who knows about it. Being honest with yourself eases the weight it carries. If mental illness of any kind affects your life or family, plan to attend and get the real story of one man's battle, as real as it gets. I'll demonstrate a technique I use with music to keep my focus singular and not allow the full hell of mania to take control. Those who come can try it for themselves. I have three songs carefully selected. You won't forget as I will not lie, nor will I refuse to answer any question. It will be informal and feel free to raise a concern when you need to. No lecture. No text. Just a human being compelled to take his story public. It's already all over the internet. I'm doing this to shine a light on mental illness so hopefully others will fight it with me. It costs nothing and you will learn about bipolar, not from a social worker, but from one who knows it well.
Contact the director's office at Human Services to assure a place (see phone numbers above).
Thank you reading this. And for those who come, thank you for showing the compassion that I know exists in Mariposa. I answer to no one, so no one will alter my message, much to the credit of director Chevon Kothari, who has been incredibly supportive of this unusual form of expression. From the day I suggested this idea, Chevon has been nothing but a rock for me. I Hope to see many of you on November 5th. It'll be an hour that will stay with you. It stays with me, for now. I need to talk and defy the natural fear of silence. It's time bipolar and mental illness are open and accepted, not feared and avoided. Be there, it's important.
