David Inkster

I am married to Lynelle and we have two kids (Zach & Heidi) and a dog (Reilly). I live and work in Sydney’s North West. I work as a Director of a commercial property company, Ray White Commercial North West.

My story - 2 steps forward 1 step back:

I want to start by saying that by no means is this intended to tell a “pity-poor-me” story, as there are plenty of people who have a much harder time in this world than our family. The story is really about bi-polar and how it has impacted our life. My wife and I met first in Sunday School at about age 5, and when we were about 16 we started to “go out with each other” (not that we went anywhere exciting). School, University, work and a year in the UK followed, and eventually we decided to get married and start a family. At around this time we discovered that Lynelle had a mild form of epilepsy (this will become relevant later) and as a result Lynelle commenced taking epilepsy medication.

During our first pregnancy, Lynelle was taken off the epilepsy medication; she later became very depressed and was diagnosed with post-natal depression (PND). Lynelle, who was working as a physiotherapist, obtained help and stuck to her PND medication and treatment diligently. However, after having a second child, and subsequently living on and off in a haze of darkness for almost 9 years, Lynelle and I spent last year (2009) discovering that she actually had bi-polar II, and that the medication she had been taking for epilepsy all those years ago is similar to the medication used to treat bi-polar, and had therefore possibly masked the symptoms of bi-polar years earlier. 

Lynelle has endured 9 years of severe depression coming and going, 9 weeks in hospital, a list of drugs that is too extensive to mention, and 24 treatments of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). 

Obviously this situation has placed a huge strain on Lynelle and her ability to function normally, our marriage, and our immediate and extended family. 

Today, we feel like we are going 2 steps forward and 1 step back, but we hope we have moved out of the darkest place and we trust that through information, quality care and understanding from spectacular friends & family we can move towards the light. 

So when one of those fantastic friends (Phil Hay) suggested that he and I (two fat blokes) should trek to base camp on Everest, we instantly saw the metaphor of “2 steps forward and 1 step back”. In order to deal with the acclimatisation required to walk to base camp, trekkers must walk up a section of the mountain during the day and travel part-way back down the mountain to sleep, therefore becoming gradually acclimatised, so it really is a journey of 2 steps forward and 1 step back. 

Phil Hay:

Phil is the Head of Life at BT (Westpac). Phil is married to Dianne and they have two kids (Nikita & Logan) and dog (Mercedes). The Hay family lives in the Hills district. Phil loves a challenge and is excited at the prospect of being able to view Mt Everest. 

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So if you would like to "back" 2 guys to base camp please see the donations page of this website. All funds go directly to the Black Dog Institute.

The Black Dog Institute is an educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in mood disorders - a range of disorders that include depression and bipolar disorder (sometimes called 'manic depression'). The Institute is attached to the Prince of Wales Hospital and affiliated with the University of New South Wales.

Information for Bi-polar II from the Black Dog Institute website:

Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is defined as being present if the person experiences episodes of both hypomania and depression but no manic episodes. The severity of the highs does not lead to hospitalisation.

Six key features of mania and hypomania

What separates normal 'happiness' from the euphoria or elevation, which is seen in mania and hypomania? Research at the Black Dog Institute has identified six principal features that appear to make this distinction. These features are:

• High energy levels
• Positive mood
• Irritability
• Inappropriate behaviour
• Creativity
• Mystical experiences.

Read more about these six features

As noted, in mania, these experiences are more extreme and severe. Mystical experiences can reach delusional intensity with the development of other psychotic symptoms. The high levels of energy reach manic excitement; the patient is unable to sleep, thoughts and speech are so fast as to be unintelligible. Inappropriate behaviour can place the individual or others at risk, especially if associated with intense irritability and delusional beliefs (e.g. persecutory delusions that someone is after them, or grandiose delusions that they have the power of flight).

Read about psychotic symptoms

The depression experienced by sufferers of bipolar disorder is equally severe for people with bipolar I as for people with bipolar II. Some recent studies have reported that depression can be both more frequent and more chronic in the case of people with bipolar II than with bipolar I.

References

1. Akiskal HS, Pinto O. 'The evolving bipolar spectrum. Protypes I, II, III and IV', Psychiatr Clin North Am 1999; 22: 517-34.

2. Piver G, Yatham LN, Lam RW. 'Bipolar spectrum disorders: New perspectives', Can Fam Physician 2002; 48:896-904.