Ben Boyle - Wave Commander

Personal Health Update

7 Jul 2020 MP

I have had quite the month for a 21 year old young man.

I was hospitalized for two weeks out of family concern that I have Bipolar Disorder, and that I was an immediate harm to myself.

I can say that I was never a harm to myself, but I may in fact be Bipolar Type 1 and I was likely experiencing a bizarre manic episode. I am happily surrounded by a large and loving support network of friends and family whom I’ve been seeing often.

I do not take issue with being “labelled” as bipolar, but I do take issue with the treatment I was offered. I do not think that refusing needles should be conflated with being involuntary.

Refusing a specific treatment does not make a patient involuntary, and I wasn’t given many options nor information.

I fear ever being put in such a situation ever again. I fear many other mental health patients may also have cries of help unheard by the steely and cold legal and healthcare systems that are supposed to be helping their condition.

I was serious when I said “Medicated and not belated, a new me waiting to be seen …”

I’m still finding out who I am and what I want to do. It is safe to say I still want to be a Computer Scientist. I am confident that I can make a large positive impact on the world with modern computers.

Thanks for listening, and wanting to know how I’m doing,

- Ben

Comments

Ben · July 8, 2020
Just an update to the update.
I had an appointment with a doctor and he was able to tell me that my prognosis is really good.
In other words, my outlook on life is looking good. Which is great, because it matches what I feel.

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