A SELF-HELP group – the first of its kind – has been set up in Ayrshire to help those living with Bipolar.

Managed by Bipolar Scotland, the self-help group is open to anyone whose life is affected by bipolar – whether it is those who have been diagnosed or family members, friends, carers and partners.

Ayrshire Bipolar Group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 7pm-9pm at Ayr Action for Mental Health, Strathyre House on Prestwick Road, starting on Tuesday, October 3.

With Bipolar Awareness week taking place between Saturday September 23 – Friday 29 , Graeme Bowman, Bipolar Scotland’s Development Officer believes it is something we need to fully acknowledge.

He said: “When people are first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, they often feel powerless, as if their life is going to be taken over by a terrible condition they can’t control.

“Self-management training empowers people – it gives them the tools and techniques they need to control bipolar disorder and not let it control them.

“South Ayrshire Council have given us some funding to run a Self-Management Training course for people who live with bipolar in South Ayrshire and we plan to do this once the Ayrshire Group is up and running.”

Michael Connolly, from Troon, has lived with Bipolar for over 20 years and he will be teaming up with Bipolar Scotland and facilitating the self-help group in Ayr.

Michael was diagnosed in 1995 at the age of 45 and describes his mood swings as “unusual”.

He said: “My moods swings are unusual and because of that, the normal medication that I would be put on has never worked.

“When you’re unwell, it isn’t the depression that causes the problems – they’re not pleasant but you basically have to ride that out – it is when people go to the other extreme.

“They call it mania – it is when you are high and that is what causes the problems.

“Your judgement is affected, you’re mischievous, you’re full of energy, you spend money, your behaviour can be inappropriate and it causes real problems and that is the hard part to manage.

“I was in a situation where [doctors] couldn’t get me stabilised and the normal medications that they used were called ‘mood stabilisers’. When you’re in a ‘down’ phase, the medication should pull up and when you are in a high phase, it should pull you down.

“Unfortunately, in my case, nothing worked so my employer gave me a year and a half to try and get myself stabilised because I wasn’t fit to work.

“It is very hard on the family and because it is so hard on those around you, that is why the support groups try and encourage not just the person that has the diagnosis, but the carers or families who are affected by it to come along. 

“It is a big impact on the family.

“Personally, looking back on my life, I know that there were depressive and manic episodes prior to being diagnosed in 1995.”

Mr Connolly explained that bipolar can be linked to genetic and environmental physiology.

He continued: “In my case, it was my dad’s younger brother, my Uncle Jim, he was bipolar and that is where my genetic link comes from.

“Sometimes the misuse of alcohol and drugs can trigger it, if you are susceptible, and I know being a member of a rock band – I was smoking and I did take LSD before.

“After being on sick leave, my employer had no choice but to let me go and it didn’t come as a surprise – it was hard to take.

“When I was diagnosed and the problems with my lifestyle it was creating, my marriage went when I lost my job and it was my choice. I just knew the impact that it was having on my wife and daughter. I was willing to fight the battle and in my head, they were better without me and I took off, as high as a kite.

“I went into the bank, withdraw half of the lump sum from the early retirement package in cash and headed for Dublin and it was party time. I was extreme unwell. It was three weeks before I phoned home – my family were frantic.

“It was crazy but at the time, it was party time and I never thought it was crazy. I have now learned over the years, when and how to pull in the reins.”

After staying in Dublin for a year and a half, Michael returned to Scotland for four years. However, he tried to take his own life – following this, he relocated to Galway, Ireland and stayed there for 12 years.

Michael praised the psychiatrists and doctors in Galway as they gave him the support that has helped him to be where he is today.

He is now living in Troon to be close to his family as well as having the coastline as a regular walking route – he is in a good place with regular sleep and eating routines and keeping himself busy with yoga, singing and football.