From My Files Friday: One of the most widely read posts on this website was written by Kathleen Maloney about her husband Joe. Here’s that original blog along with an update about a surprising decision that Kathleen has made.
What I went through while trying to get Joe help, and watching him suffer for so long, has changed me. It gave my life purpose and meaning. After telling our story, I received hundreds of emails and phone calls from people all over America, and even as far away as Australia. They all shared similar stories: Spouses caring for husbands or wives, sisters caring for brothers, daughters caring for fathers. Many were heartbreaking because these people were coping without help. They were and are alone.
This year, I will finish the memoir I’ve been working on since Joe’s death, and I will begin the arduous task of finding a publisher. This year, I also plan to move to Ireland, which I visited during a vacation in search of my roots. Stigma of mental illness in Ireland is even more prevalent than it is here in the United States. Suicides are at an all-time high, especially among young males ages 20 to 24. So, after I get settled, I plan to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness in Ireland. (Read more at the end of this blog about Kathleen’s ongoing story.)
Bipolar Disorder Destroyed Joe’s Life
By Kathleen Maloney
My husband Joe and I enjoyed 18 wonderful years together. We had a beautiful daughter and our lives were filled with love, laughter, joy, hard work and exciting plans for the future.
That was before he got sick, before he was diagnosed with a mental illness.