Question: What is your advice for someone who has recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

John McManamy: You are not alone. This is a treatable illness, you're amongst friends, you can get help, you can get support. Please don't despair; you're entitled to lead a full rewarding and productive life, even if you have to change some of your expectations about this life.

Eventually, you'll find this illness will make you a much stronger person, more compassionate and closer in touch to your own humanity and closer in touch to God. I'd also say, I am not going to sugarcoat it, there maybe years of frustration and heartbreak ahead of you. Relapses are common with this illness. The meds aren't perfect. In fact, the meds will only get you part way to recovery.

But the good side of it is you can take a large part in your recovery by your own lifestyle choices, by the choices you make getting proper sleep, diet, exercise. The friends you make, the support you find, and that full recovery is possible with this illness but you have to work at it.