Love, like life, is much stranger and far more complicated than one is brought up to believe.

I realized that it was not that I didn’t want to go on without him. I did. It was just that I didn’t know why I wanted to go on

I love animals, and I was always attracted to the idea of being a zoo veterinarian or a veterinarian with the circus.

Grief is so human, and it hits everyone at one point or another, at least, in their lives. If you love, you will grieve, and that's just given.

Lithium remains the gold standard, but many drugs now treat bipolar disorder. Medication is critical and should be combined with psychotherapy. Compliance is a major problem. Patients believe that once they're better, they no longer need the medication. It doesn't work that way.

Because I teach and write about depression and bipolar illness, I am often asked what is the most important factor in treating bipolar disorder. My answer is competence. Empathy is important, but competence is essential.