Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Other Side of Midnight
    The Other Side of Midnight
    The Other Side of Midnight
    Ebook128 pages2 hours

    The Other Side of Midnight

    By Sherry Boardman

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Are you bipolar? No? Are you certain? According to U.S. statistics, there are 5.7 million people who have been diagnosed who were previously unaware of the reason their lives were upside down compared to others. The Other Side of Midnight is a mother’s story of her daughter’s struggles in finding normalcy in her life when she realized she wasn’t right side up. After battling an unknown illness for numerous years, the bipolar diagnosis was almost a blessing. The reason became clear for the years of continual physical and emotional abuse, indescribable illnesses, suicide contemplation, and a cluttered mind that could never be organized into neat stacks. Written from a mother’s viewpoint, who yet carries pangs of guilt for not recognizing a crippling demon methodically destroying her child, it is an example for others to become more aware of deviant behavior in their loved ones and be familiar with symptoms of the illness—incurable, but definitely treatable.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSherry Boardman
    Release dateMay 19, 2011
    ISBN9781458070197
    The Other Side of Midnight
    Author

    Sherry Boardman

    After retiring from education and wanting to stay busy, I dug out all the manuscripts written through the years and began a new career, that of author. Smashwords has been amazing in its assistance in preparing for final publications. I was born and raised in Texas. Although I have lived in other states, I always return home to my roots. My books are written from the heart with my readers always in mind. I hope you find much enjoyment in allowing your mind to wander to other times and places and will return to my site often to see the latest creation available.

    Read more from Sherry Boardman

    Related to The Other Side of Midnight

    Related ebooks

    Wellness For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Phases Of Depression

      Feb 15, 2021

      Phases Of Depression
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Story My Journey Out Of Darkness

      Mar 24, 2021

      My Story My Journey Out Of Darkness
      5 min read

    • Article

      Struggling To Breathe

      Jun 12, 2020

      Struggling To Breathe
      4 min read

    • Article

      Sober And Flourishing

      Mar 14, 2024

      Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault. Over a year ago, I made the decision to give sobriety a crack. Initially, I intended to improve my poor sleep and address my health issues by taking a month off drinking. What happened was an aw

      3 min read

    • Article

      State of A nation

      Nov 4, 2022

      State of A nation
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Time of Suffering

      May 24, 2019

      My Time of Suffering
      6 min read

    • Article

      Making Each Day Matter

      Nov 18, 2016

      Making Each Day Matter
      6 min read

    • Article

      Unfreeze your Mind

      Oct 5, 2023

      Unfreeze your Mind
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Journey With Bipolar Disorder

      Nov 14, 2022

      A Journey With Bipolar Disorder
      2 min read

    • Article

      How To Flourish In Dark Times

      Apr 8, 2021

      How To Flourish In Dark Times
      4 min read

    • Article

      Falling

      Mar 1, 2021

      Falling
      5 min read

    • Article

      LIVIN’ STRONG with Lex

      Dec 3, 2019

      LIVIN’ STRONG with Lex
      3 min read

    • Article

      No Laughing Matter

      Feb 10, 2022

      Standing with a group of friends at my sixth form school, someone suddenly said something funny. A burst of laughter escaped my mouth. Then without any warning, I collapsed in a heap on the floor. Trying to process what was going on, I realised I cou

      5 min read

    • Article

      When You Can’t Outrun Depression

      Oct 29, 2021

      Not only am I a Springsteen fan, cinnamon roll addict and owner of a Great Dane named Little Debbie, I am also a licensed clinical social worker. After nearly 20 years in practice, I thought I had a solid understanding of depression. Ah, how little I

      3 min read

    • Article

      Laughing fit

      Jul 14, 2022

      Laughing fit
      5 min read

    • Article

      Facing The Demons

      Nov 1, 2018

      Facing The Demons
      7 min read

    • Article

      Stop the Shame Game

      Sep 26, 2022

      Stop the Shame Game
      4 min read

    • Article

      Adventures In Binge Therapy

      Aug 4, 2022

      Adventures In Binge Therapy
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Other Side of Midnight

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Other Side of Midnight - Sherry Boardman

      The Other Side of Midnight

      by Sherry Boardman

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2011 Sherry Boardman

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Cover: Terra Davanti II Sole

      by Ideago, http://freedigitalphotos.net

      Cover Design: Sherry Boardman

      "INVICTUS"

      Out of the night that covers me,

      Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

      I thank whatever gods may be

      For my unconquerable soul.

      In the fell clutch of circumstance

      I have not winced nor cried aloud,

      Under the bludgeoning of chance

      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

      Beyond the place of wrath and tears

      Looms but the Horror of the shade,

      And yet the menace of the years

      Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

      It matters not how strait the gate,

      How charged with punishment the scroll,

      I am the master of my fate;

      I am the captain of my soul.

      (William Ernest Henley)

      Foreword

      Life was a black hole...an abyss. Its meaning and purpose dimmed and disappeared in the murky shadows. I was lost and weary of everyday struggles just to be begun anew the next.

      With the bipolar diagnosis came rebirth. I became convinced I could survive, somehow. But it wasn’t instantaneous. First of all, I had to understand the illness and the negative results if it wasn’t attacked head-on.

      Without the understanding, guidance, and unconditional love from my mother, compassion from close friends, and constant encouragement from my physician, I wouldn’t be here today to read the story of the darkness that engulfed me for more years than I care to remember. Memories aren’t always kind.

      There is no cure for bipolar, but there is life after being diagnosed with this illness. I chose to go forward and daily put forth the effort to make up for all the time lost because of an unknown, emotionally crippling demon that quietly and methodically buried my self worth and the will to live.

      Now, I make an effort to begin each day with purpose in my heart. Now, I truly believe there is a special reason for my being here. Seeds of encouragement have taken root, and my harvest will be successful.

      To all who feel despair with this illness, know there is help. There is hope. There are dreams to be fulfilled...the past to be overcome. Today, the abyss has closed, and the promised light shines through the haze to protect me from my personal gloom. I’m thankful every moment for its glow.

      It is there for you, too.

      Reach for it!

      C.

      The Other Side Of Midnight

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      Chapter 1

      A Mirror Indeed Has Two Sides

      Introduction to bipolar illness--personal observations

      Impact of daughter’s diagnosis

      Personal family’s history of mental illness

      History of bipolar

      Referenced supporting statistics

      Chapter 2

      What’s It All About?

      What the experts say about the illness

      Genetic heredity

      Gene research

      Referenced support

      Personal experiences intertwined with family’s background of mental illness

      Chapter 3

      A Disease?

      Pro and con on identification as disease or illness

      Referenced support

      Chapter 4

      Characteristics/Symptoms

      Symptoms of bipolar: depression, mania, suicide

      Signs of on-coming episodes and relapses

      Self-help references cited

      Chapter 5

      Tag, You’re It!

      Identification of bipolar disorders

      Physician coding of specific diagnosis

      Chapter 6

      Behavior

      Why am I here?

      Why me, O Lord?

      What is our worth?

      Chapter 7

      Handle with Care

      Treatment medications, side effects

      Alternative Treatment/Remedies

      Financial assistance

      Chapter 8

      Circle the Wagons

      Five States of Recovery

      Importance of caregivers’ record keeping

      Coping strategies – sources

      Future outlook in the work place

      Chapter 9

      Time for S O S Flares

      Family support

      Caregivers and their roles

      Phrases to use and not use

      Environment

      Referenced info

      Filing system for caregivers

      Responsibility

      Mentally ill homeless statistics

      Success of Society

      Chapter 10

      The Aura of Life

      Support groups for caregivers

      Support sites for partners

      Family/Personal experiences

      The Aura’s glow

      Chapter 11

      Star Light, Star Bright

      Famous bipolar personalities

      Chapter 12

      Final Thoughts

      Case Histories

      Works Consulted

      Related Readings

      Author's Note

      Disclaimer

      The Other Side Of Midnight

      Chapter 1

      A Mirror Indeed Has Two Sides

      "I am a person. Do not bend, fold, or mutilate."

      (1964 Berkley riots picket sign)

      Tears closed my throat as she cleared the security gate and then turned to blow me a final kiss. Retrieving the pet carrier secreting the moppet-eyed Min-Pin nervously observing passengers grabbing carry-on luggage from the tables, she disappeared around the corner. She was going home. After years of despair, abuse, emotional ups and downs, paranoid tendencies, misdiagnosed illnesses, and fighting one battle after another to face life each day, my daughter was finally going home. Home was now away from a slightly overprotective mother, a physical and emotional abusive significant other, and the cares that had weighted her down for more years than I will ever know. Waiting for her a thousand miles away, I am convinced through a higher intervention, was one she had found (or who had found her) to love and who could be a constant, understanding companion willing to do whatever necessary to heal her wounds and help her realize that she possessed worth in this world that had been so cruel in so many ways. Even if it was fated not to become the perfect relationship, she was moving forward for the first time in half her years.

      My daughter is bipolar. Bi – meaning two; polar – extreme opposite, upside down, other end, highs/lows. One definition found is traveling in a polar orbit. Until six months prior to this point of finding a life of her own, she was a mess. Mood swings were forever difficult to read. When a phone call was made, the conversation would be well under way before I could decipher the day’s temperament to know how to approach various topics. Often, it would be several days later before there was even a hint that there had been a problem for over a week. Rarely was a month skipped for medical appointments for treatment of a back and a rib injury, an ulcer, seasonal lung infections requiring infusions, digestive difficulties, headaches, female maladies, and on and on. At the same time, chiropractor treatments were ongoing. The greatest relief was from the acupuncturist, as she was the most serene after her bi-monthly treatments. This type of alternative medicine had its advantages. Everything was treated at once. Medications were changed or increased at each physician’s visit as symptoms fluctuated. How frustrated and challenged he must have been to stretch his expertise endeavoring to diagnose additional physical problems during one appointment. Through the years, the emotional trauma ultimately began to seep through to the medical charts to override the physical ailments. One day he took the plunge and presented her with a questionnaire for bipolar tendencies. Five of twelve questions with an affirmative answer would indicate the possibility. Eleven were marked. She was in tears when she called after the appointment and said she wasn’t certain if she was upset because of the diagnosis or relieved because there was a real diagnosable illness.

      My missed clue? It was there, right in my face, and had been on and off for years. Her sleeping through crises, sometimes not calling for days on end when we usually talked at least every other day, paranoid thoughts of the workplace, insomnia, forgetfulness, forgiveness for continual abuse, and escalation of other such behaviors were all symptoms. During depressive states before the diagnosis, she would sit with her head in her hands sobbing, asking over and over what was wrong with her. Often I suggested therapy, but that wasn’t an option for her because of the stigma of possibly being diagnosed with a mental illness. She thought the problem would simply disappear with time and the period of depression being experienced at that moment would pass. I listened for alarming clues by this point, because I knew her mental state was shutting down.

      But, there was one word she never voiced aloud; however, all indicators began to point to it.

      Suicide.

      I confronted her with my fear. She confirmed.

      The next day she made the medical appointment, a bipolar evaluation completed, and, finally, a valid diagnosis was scrawled on the chart.

      The medication began its trial and error

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1