An Occupational Therapist's Journey Through Bipolar Affective Disorder

This paper is a retrospective analysis of the first author's journey of growth through the onset of bipolar affective disorder and beyond. It provides the intertwining subjective and objective perspectives of a survivor, an occupational therapy student challenged by mental illness and, now, an occupational therapist specializing in mental health. This paper illustrates the importance of some of the foundations of occupational therapy in describing the rehabilitative process to recovery. The concepts of spirituality, empowerment through education and the multidimensional role of occupation in recovery are outlined. Conceptual illustrations of “Doing,” “Being,” “Becoming” and “Believing” are integrated and provide a unique perspective on the lived experience beneath these words.