How can a disease of the brain not affect personality? Personality comes from the sum of parts of the brain, not other parts of the body. Yeah, I have a disorder, but having it affects my self-image, so how can my personality shine thru? IMO, all mental illness has a personality component. During those rare occasions when I feel stable, my "true" personality approaches authentic. The rest of the time, the effects of bipolar are interfering with my ability to be myself.

I put little stock in Kay Jamieson. She has every support system available, and every advantage in life. I can't relate to that after having the family I've got (not talking about it), losing my career and not having made a fortune telling my story because it isn't full of wonderful endings. She gives false hopes to alot of us who are still suffering and unable to overcome the obstacles bipolar puts in our paths without the support system she has set up. I'd rather read about someone who hasn't had a charmed life that happens to include bipolar.