Anita is a vet and a published author who loves reading, writing, baking and throwing a good party. She’s also a SANE Peer Ambassador with lived experience of postnatal psychosis and bipolar 1 disorder.  

Over 50 years I have lived in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Germany again, Brisbane, Adelaide, the UK and then Brisbane again.  I now share a home and garden in Brisbane with Michael, my husband of 23 years, and my two teenage children. Unfortunately, I now have to avoid travel involving crossing major time zones because of the risk this could trigger a bipolar episode. 

Anita experienced some symptoms of burnout while working as a vet and had no history of mental illness through her childhood, adolescence or early adulthood.  

I was nearly 33 when I had my first baby. I went into a 33-hour labour on 2 hours sleep and then didn’t sleep for the following 4 nights in hospital. By the time I was due to be discharged home I was curled up in a ball on the floor crying and had started to stutter.  

Thankfully I was referred to a mother baby unit at a private psychiatric hospital. If they had sent me home neither I nor my baby may be here today.  

Anita’s psychosis recurred three and a half years after her first episode, six weeks after the birth of her second baby.  When she continued to have manic and psychotic episodes and occasional depressive episodes well outside of the perinatal period, Anita’s psychiatrist confirmed her diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder. 

I recognise that it is not possible for everyone to speak out about their experiences to reduce stigma, but that my circumstances of good care even with a severe mental illness meant I had long stretches of time when I was well enough to be open about my lived experience, and to show that with the right care it is possible to live a good life with severe mental illness. 

Anita’s lifestyle, budget and wellbeing have been impacted by her complex mental health needs and she understands everyone’s experience and pattern of bipolar 1 disorder is different.  

So far my pattern is when I am well, I am very well and function happily. During periods of wellness (aside from taking a lot of medication and having regular consultations with my psychiatrist and psychologist) my lifestyle and wellbeing are barely impacted by my illness.