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**GECEDEANY** · 05-17-2006, 09:50 AM

Bi-polar disorder is becoming so widespread that one wonders if there is something wrong with the water we drink or something (perhaps there is not enough lithium in our diets?). I know far too many people who also struggle with this ...

I am a Toolmaker by trade, and have been employed with the same company for approximately 13 years. In my department, known in the facility as 'the Tool Room', there are two dozen Tool-Makers, and each one has his/her own work-bench. The benches are arranged in rows at the back of the shop, and mine is located in the second row from the back. In this row, there are four benches: mine is second from the left. My neighbour to my immediate right, whose name is Mike, was diagnosed as bi-polar, I believe, about 3 years ago, and has been off work ever since, until just recently, returning only last week for the first time.

While he was off work for three years, Mike's bench remained vacant, even though there was a shortage of benches in the shop. Then, just over a year ago, a new Tool-Maker, named Brad, came to work for us. He was not given his own bench, but was asked to share one with someone else, which he did, for about half a year. Then a conflict (of sorts) occurred and he was moved out of that first bench into Mike's vacant bench. Brad did not know anything about Mike, or Mike's medical condition; as they had never met and Brad is a quiet man, more-or-less, and so most persons in the shop are not inclined to speak to him for long.

Some months after Brad had moved into Mike's bench, we were working fairly close together in the Die Repair area, and he struck up a conversation with me about 'life after death', which was uncharacteristic of him. I'm not sure how or even why, but during that conversation, I disclosed to him Mike's medical condition. I did so spontaneously, and recognize it was wrong to do so; but to my surprise, Brad took that opportunity to disclose to me his own medical history. He too was diagnosed as bi-polar around the same time as Mike, if not just a short time earlier and, if memory serves me right, I seem to recall him saying he was away from full-time work for nearly the same length of time as Mike was, before returning.

Dear Jim, thank you for your humble explanation. I am sorry that my words appeared ambiguous and offensive. I won't try to explain them any further than to say they were sincere and not meant to be provocative. It seems I have a bad habit of speaking too freely and it always gets me into trouble, without failure. The irony, though, is that I am generally a quiet person, and strive most of the time to avoid talkativeness. However, I have my moments when the flood-gates are opened, and the torrents flow. This is especially true of me during times of great agitation. Knowing now the circumstances of your life, a prayer hut makes perfect sense to me; and I must agree with the others regarding it's 'spiritual' beauty.

wretched Theophilus

05-17-2006, 09:50 AM	#24
GECEDEANY Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 480 Senior Member	Bi-polar disorder is becoming so widespread that one wonders if there is something wrong with the water we drink or something (perhaps there is not enough lithium in our diets?). I know far too many people who also struggle with this ... I am a Toolmaker by trade, and have been employed with the same company for approximately 13 years. In my department, known in the facility as 'the Tool Room', there are two dozen Tool-Makers, and each one has his/her own work-bench. The benches are arranged in rows at the back of the shop, and mine is located in the second row from the back. In this row, there are four benches: mine is second from the left. My neighbour to my immediate right, whose name is Mike, was diagnosed as bi-polar, I believe, about 3 years ago, and has been off work ever since, until just recently, returning only last week for the first time. While he was off work for three years, Mike's bench remained vacant, even though there was a shortage of benches in the shop. Then, just over a year ago, a new Tool-Maker, named Brad, came to work for us. He was not given his own bench, but was asked to share one with someone else, which he did, for about half a year. Then a conflict (of sorts) occurred and he was moved out of that first bench into Mike's vacant bench. Brad did not know anything about Mike, or Mike's medical condition; as they had never met and Brad is a quiet man, more-or-less, and so most persons in the shop are not inclined to speak to him for long. Some months after Brad had moved into Mike's bench, we were working fairly close together in the Die Repair area, and he struck up a conversation with me about 'life after death', which was uncharacteristic of him. I'm not sure how or even why, but during that conversation, I disclosed to him Mike's medical condition. I did so spontaneously, and recognize it was wrong to do so; but to my surprise, Brad took that opportunity to disclose to me his own medical history. He too was diagnosed as bi-polar around the same time as Mike, if not just a short time earlier and, if memory serves me right, I seem to recall him saying he was away from full-time work for nearly the same length of time as Mike was, before returning. Dear Jim, thank you for your humble explanation. I am sorry that my words appeared ambiguous and offensive. I won't try to explain them any further than to say they were sincere and not meant to be provocative. It seems I have a bad habit of speaking too freely and it always gets me into trouble, without failure. The irony, though, is that I am generally a quiet person, and strive most of the time to avoid talkativeness. However, I have my moments when the flood-gates are opened, and the torrents flow. This is especially true of me during times of great agitation. Knowing now the circumstances of your life, a prayer hut makes perfect sense to me; and I must agree with the others regarding it's 'spiritual' beauty. wretched Theophilus
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