Normal Stories - Part II - Before They Knew What It Was

Here is our next installment in the Normal Stories series in conjunction with our production of Next to Normal, running June 1-June 17.  The Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning family drama is about a woman dealing with mental illness, and the impact the struggle within her own mind has on her entire family.

We have asked patrons, artists, friends, and family to share their stories, their diagnosis, and the impact it has had on their daily and family life. So many of you have shared and we now are excited to facilitate a greater conversation. Here is the second of a series of many stories we will share in the coming weeks. Linda has been a faithful patron and supporter of the arts in Downtown Lynn. Here story comes from a time in her life when the world knew so much less about mental health.



Linda's Story

My name is Linda Sullivan. I do not have any diagnosed mental illness, yet my mother was Bipolar before they knew what it was. Growing up was a challenge to say the least, but I believe it made me stronger and more compassionate towards others. I was my mom’s only child…she once told me (in the throes of a manic episode) that she never wanted children!…and was very close to her throughout our lives. She passed at the age of 82 in 2005 from advanced dementia. 

I am 58, married with 2 adult children and work part-time as a Registered Dietitian in Long Term Care. I am a life-long and proud “Lynner”. I am involved with several volunteer organizations…Friends of Lynn Woods, Bike To The Sea, Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts…

I would describe BiPolar Disorder as a chemical imbalance that causes behavioral changes that can range from almost catatonic to completely manic and that can be well-managed with the right medicine and psychiatric care.

I had to grow up really fast, living with my Mom who was basically kept “down”, i.e. surpressed rather than chance her becoming manic. She basically sat in a chair, watched TV and smoked cigarettes. Once a day she would prepare our supper that was canned vegetables, mashed potatoes and some kind of meat that was generally fried. On occasion when she was feeling better she might make a casserole or even meatballs and spaghetti! 

Some background on Betty…she was also a life-long Lynner…a graduate of Lynn English and also Salem State Teacher’s College, class of 1945. Her degree was in Business Education, but she never taught save for her student teaching that might have been at a private school, because she said she never taught because of the spoiled brats there. She had a long career with GE as an executive secretary, but it was mostly on sick leave! In fact she was still collecting a long-term disability check from them until the end. Every time she went back to work, it would start off great, she’d be engaged, have money to spend and boy, did we have fun! But it was short-lived, because she would eventually become manic and require hospitalization. She was lucky to have Baldpate, a private place in Georgetown due to her GE employ, but she did go to ‘Danvers” once…and that is a whole other story! The next step would be to bring her ‘down’ from her mania by zonking her and then the bump on the log would be back! :(  

One time, when I was 12 she barricaded herself in our kitchen for 3 days and everything on every shelf, in every cabinet came crashing down on the floor . It was unimaginable. And my Dad had just had knee surgery on both knees and really was just worn out, so he had to resort to calling the police eventually and they were not able to take her to Baldpate because it was private. They took her out in a straight jacket! Two days before Christmas! I was 12!  :(  She spent Christmas in that hellhole before we could get her transferred.  

She didn’t have another manic episode until I was 16, that time I got to drive her to Baldpate myself for admittance, because my Dad was just so very worn out from it all! What a great ride, she intermittently dozed off, but when awake, she never shut up! Very paranoid, accused us of ganging up on her, against her…. I had gone on my first vacation with a bunch oaf girlfriends to Bermuda for school vacation the week before and knew it was brewing, but…. At the airport she insisted on buying trip insurance for me and for one of my friends. Mind you, we had all saved our pennies for the whole previous year to make this vacation happen with no $$ from our parents.  And then halfway through the vacation I got mail! Like 7 pages of rambling BS! Who gets a letter on vacation ???

When my father died prematurely at 66, it only took about a month for her to become manic once again, but this time, I took her to Union Hospital and what a game changer that was! She was finally put on Lithium! This was the best thing that ever happened to her! She ended up having about 11 years living normally! A few months after discharge she had a previously booked follow up appointment with her Baldpate psychiatrist and I took the time to take the day off from work, because I couldn’t wait to find out why they had never tried her on Lithium! I was informed that it had been in use at that time for about 10-15 years!!! That bitch (as I remember thinking!) said ”oh, we did not want to upset the apple-cart because she was doing so well!” I was livid! I told her that I had my mother for the first time in my life, whole, not up or down, but NORMAL! She never went back to Baldpate again! And never became manic again until after being taken off Lithium …again, another story!

My advice would be to educate yourself and your friends and family because it is very lonely when people don’t understand.Thankfully, it is much better for people now than it was back in Betty’s day.

People need to know that it can be very well-controlled with proper treatment and that people who have this condition are often very colorful, smart and fun people!

 

 Next to Normal runs at Arts After Hours from June 1-June 17. For more information visit http://artsafterhours.com or call 781-205-4010.