Kay Redfield Jamison - Presenter

How can one survive if their brain is constantly riding an emotional rollercoaster? That is a question faced by those who suffer from bipolar disease, otherwise known as manic-depressive illness.This relatively common mental disorder can cause unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and even influence one’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. It can also lead to unbridled exuberance and creativity. What does make the artistic temperament so unique and so volatile? 

Psychiatrist and author Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., is one of the nation’s foremost experts on bipolar disorder. She has suffered from the disease her entire adult life. She is the author of several national bestsellers including An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide, and Touch with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament. She is co-author of the standard medical text on manic-depressive illness and the recipient of national and international scientific awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship. 

Dr. Jamison will share her understanding, experiences and insights and discuss the heights and depths the mind can achieve.