--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My manic depression was ravaging my life…" description: "\"My manic depression was ravaging my life, but because nobody could see it, many people thought it was a figment of my imagination.\" — Andy Behrman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48d/andy-behrman-22769_because_my-manic-depression-was-ravaging-my-life_3014946.png" --- # My manic depression was ravaging my life, but because… ![“My manic depression was ravaging my life, but because nobody could see it, many people thought it was a figment of my imagination.” quote by Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48d/andy-behrman-22769_because_my-manic-depression-was-ravaging-my-life_3014946.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48d/andy-behrman-22769_because_my-manic-depression-was-ravaging-my-life_3014946.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48d/andy-behrman-22769_because_my-manic-depression-was-ravaging-my-life_3014946.png) > “My manic depression was ravaging my life, but because nobody could see it, many people thought it was a figment of my imagination.” [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It describes hidden manic depression, misunderstood because it isn’t visible to others. **In simple terms:** Invisible illness is often doubted. Key Takeaway Raise awareness for unseen struggles. Themes mental health stigma misunderstanding Mood empathetic urgent Type advocacy personal When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - education campaigns Key Concepts psychology depression anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support invisible illnesses? - What biases affect our perception of mental health? A Different Perspective May generalize personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Ravaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-ravaging-4851225/) [Figments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figments/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manic/) [Manic depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manic-depression/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [My imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-imagination/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-thought/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Figment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-figment-4851226/) ## Related quotes > [Manic depression is a type of depression, technically, and it's the opposite of uni-polar. Manic depression is also called bi-polar disorder. Some people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/manic-depression-is-a-type-of-depression-technically-and-it-s-the/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [The little depression I experienced during my manic-depression was not like depression as anyone else had ever described it. It was very violent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/the-little-depression-i-experienced-during-my-manic-depression-was/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [In total, I was diagnosed with depression by eight psychotherapists and psychiatrists over a period of thirteen years. Diagnosed wrong. Absolutely wrong. My accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/in-total-i-was-diagnosed-with-depression-by-eight-psychotherapists/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I believe there is a reason such as autism, severe manic-depression, and schizophrenia remain in our gene pool even though there is much suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-believe-there-is-a-reason-such-as-autism-severe-manic-depression/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I was diagnosed with ADD - see also: raised on sugary cereals and cartoons - and manic depression. So I was prescribed Ritalin for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-was-diagnosed-with-add-see-also-raised-on-sugary-cereals-and/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [“Manic depression is like tunnel vision for the good things. But the trouble really begins when you're out of the tunnel. The light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-desendere/manic-depression-is-like-tunnel-vision-for-the-good-things-but-the/) [Matthijs Desendere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-desendere/) > [My recovery from manic depression has been an evolution, not a sudden miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/my-recovery-from-manic-depression-has-been-an-evolution-not-a-sudden/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) > [Manic-depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/manic-depression-distorts-moods-and-thoughts-incites-dreadful-2/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Evidence is strongly suggesting Bipolar Disorder - previously known as Manic Depression - may be dramatically increasing in modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parker/evidence-is-strongly-suggesting-bipolar-disorder-previously-known-as/) [Gordon Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parker/) > [The point about manic depression or bipolar disorder, as it's now more commonly called, is that it's about mood swings. So, you have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-point-about-manic-depression-or-bipolar-disorder-as-it-s-now-more/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Writers, especially poets, are particularly prone to madness. There exists a striking association between creativity and manic depression. Why are more creative people prone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/writers-especially-poets-are-particularly-prone-to-madness-there/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) > [I wish I had never got manic depression. When I was in junior high, I didn't know what was the matter with me. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-johnston/i-wish-i-had-never-got-manic-depression-when-i-was-in-junior-high-i/) [Daniel Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-johnston/) > [“Her parents, she said, has put a pinball machine inside her head when she was five years old. The red balls told her when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/her-parents-she-said-has-put-a-pinball-machine-inside-her-head-when/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Manic depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/manic-depression-distorts-moods-and-thoughts-incites-dreadful/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [You can have manic depression without having an ounce of creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/you-can-have-manic-depression-without-having-an-ounce-of-creativity/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) ## More by Andy Behrman > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [When I'm manic, I'm so awake and alert, that my eyelashes fluttering on the pillow sound like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/when-i-m-manic-i-m-so-awake-and-alert-that-my-eyelashes-fluttering-on/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Friends and family were convinced I was functioning just fine because I was efficient, productive and successful - who wouldn't be working twenty hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/friends-and-family-were-convinced-i-was-functioning-just-fine-because/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [People accuse me of glamorizing mental illness. Looking back sometimes, that's true. But I don't feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/people-accuse-me-of-glamorizing-mental-illness-looking-back-sometimes/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [The little depression I experienced during my manic-depression was not like depression as anyone else had ever described it. It was very violent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/the-little-depression-i-experienced-during-my-manic-depression-was/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Like Sylvia Plath, Natalie Jeanne Champagne invites you so close to the pain and agony of her life of mental illness and addiction, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/like-sylvia-plath-natalie-jeanne-champagne-invites-you-so-close-to/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [In my most psychotic stages, I imagine myself chewing on sidewalks and bulging and swallowing sunlight and clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/in-my-most-psychotic-stages-i-imagine-myself-chewing-on-sidewalks-and/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Weekly $25,000 shopping binges at Barney's and "high end" boutiques for clothes I barely wore were the norm. So were lavish meals with friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/weekly-25-000-shopping-binges-at-barney-s-and-high-end-boutiques-for/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I counterfeited Mark Kostabi's artworks. During the eighties, Mark didn't paint his own paintings. Instead, he had other artists painting them, and he just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-counterfeited-mark-kostabi-s-artworks-during-the-eighties-mark-didn/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [The guilt I felt for having a mental illness was horrible. I prayed for a broken bone that would heal in six weeks. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/the-guilt-i-felt-for-having-a-mental-illness-was-horrible-i-prayed/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [There are lots of people with mental health disabilities, and that's just the way their life is; it's not like you see it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/there-are-lots-of-people-with-mental-health-disabilities-and-that-s/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [“Bipolar disorder is about buying a dozen bottles of Heinz ketchup and all eight bottles of Windex in stock at the Food Emporium on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/bipolar-disorder-is-about-buying-a-dozen-bottles-of-heinz-ketchup-and/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I think almost all manic depressives exhibit some kind of criminal behaviour, even if it's something as minimal as shoplifting, but then they often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-think-almost-all-manic-depressives-exhibit-some-kind-of-criminal/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [In total, I was diagnosed with depression by eight psychotherapists and psychiatrists over a period of thirteen years. Diagnosed wrong. Absolutely wrong. My accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/in-total-i-was-diagnosed-with-depression-by-eight-psychotherapists/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I felt like I was the only person on the planet with this 'thing called depression', and I remember being frightened. 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