Sometimes you need help.
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This past week my good friend Geoff called me... but this call was a little different than normal. He was talking quickly and rambling a bit but to anyone who knows Geoff that isn't that unusual. What was unusual is that he seemed to be out of breath, he wasn't really making much sense and was talking about things in a manner I've never heard him talk before.
I didn't think a tremendous amount about it besides confirming with him that he was okay and shooting him a message later to check up on him. I live in a different town and couldn't really go check on him, but I feel like I should have done more.
Apparently the people around him also noticed that things weren't really normal and his roommates eventually took him to the emergency room and it was discovered that he was in the middle of a severe manic episode and he was then diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.
This may come as a surprise to many people, it did to me. Apparently, though, it wasn't as much of a surprise to Geoff. When I talked to him in the hospital he told me that he had thought before that there was a possibility he could be bipolar.
Visiting him, though, he's in good spirits. He's happy that he's getting treatment. He's excited about the direction of his life and the projects he's going to be working on. And so am I.
People close to him may know that Geoff is brilliant. He's one of the smartest individuals I've ever met. Whether it's history, politics, sports or any trivia you can think of it's likely he's well versed on the subject. He has his masters in public policy from Indiana, but he, like many people has had trouble finding a job in the field he wants to work in. He works two part time jobs and an internship trying to get into the field he is passionate about.
That's what brings me here today. I have no idea what his treatment is going to cost. All I know is that he is getting inpatient psychiatric care and that there's no current set date that he is getting out of the hospital. He has insurance, but it's a plan off the health care exchange without particularly rich benefits. When all is said and done I don't know what his bill will be, but I can only imagine it will be difficult to pay.
I just know Geoff will have a lot going on when he gets out and if I, or we, can help make his life a bit easier and less stressful going forward it would mean a lot. I know Geoff would do whatever he could to help a friend in need.
I didn't think a tremendous amount about it besides confirming with him that he was okay and shooting him a message later to check up on him. I live in a different town and couldn't really go check on him, but I feel like I should have done more.
Apparently the people around him also noticed that things weren't really normal and his roommates eventually took him to the emergency room and it was discovered that he was in the middle of a severe manic episode and he was then diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.
This may come as a surprise to many people, it did to me. Apparently, though, it wasn't as much of a surprise to Geoff. When I talked to him in the hospital he told me that he had thought before that there was a possibility he could be bipolar.
Visiting him, though, he's in good spirits. He's happy that he's getting treatment. He's excited about the direction of his life and the projects he's going to be working on. And so am I.
People close to him may know that Geoff is brilliant. He's one of the smartest individuals I've ever met. Whether it's history, politics, sports or any trivia you can think of it's likely he's well versed on the subject. He has his masters in public policy from Indiana, but he, like many people has had trouble finding a job in the field he wants to work in. He works two part time jobs and an internship trying to get into the field he is passionate about.
That's what brings me here today. I have no idea what his treatment is going to cost. All I know is that he is getting inpatient psychiatric care and that there's no current set date that he is getting out of the hospital. He has insurance, but it's a plan off the health care exchange without particularly rich benefits. When all is said and done I don't know what his bill will be, but I can only imagine it will be difficult to pay.
I just know Geoff will have a lot going on when he gets out and if I, or we, can help make his life a bit easier and less stressful going forward it would mean a lot. I know Geoff would do whatever he could to help a friend in need.
Organizer
Steven Patrick
Organizer
Springfield, IL
