Our understanding of bipolar disorder—a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings—has come a long way since the days when people with the disorder were dismissed as “crazy” or attention-seeking, but it remains a commonly stigmatized and misunderstood illness. AUDLEY ENOUGH (A Portrait of Triumph and Recovery in the Face of Mania and Depression), co-authored by Lesley Whyte Reford and Patricia Lavoie, puts a human face on bipolar disorder in telling the story of Audley Coley, a Jamaican-born dancer, fitness instructor, activist, and inspirational speaker who has devoted his life to sharing his experiences with bipolar disorder as an educator and advocate.
Audley, whose family emigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 1968 when he was ten years old, faced enormous challenges even before mental illness became an issue. Despite vicious racism and cultural stereotyping (“It was always assumed they were from Jamaica—they were selling or doing drugs; they couldn’t hold a job; they were dangerous to be around”), Audley, described by teachers as “a bright, honest and loyal boy,” persevered with a positive, resilient mindset. As a teenager, Audley discovered dance and embraced it as both a means of self-expression and a way to process his anger and resentment. Despite living his dream as a dancer, training with the renowned Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal repertory company, and later teaching at Les Ballets Russes de Montréal, Audley’s personal and professional life suffered from “a manic frenzy of unwise choices,” making impulsive decisions and pushing himself beyond his limits. When an angry confrontation with the staff at a Montreal hotel landed him in prison at the age of 26, Audley wound up in a psychiatric hospital, where he was diagnosed with bipolar. His diagnosis and recovery was a low point in Audley’s life, during which he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. It was also the beginning of a long and arduous journey, as Audley worked on healing himself and rebuilding his life and career.
In addition to sharing Audley’s journey, AUDLEY ENOUGH offers his hard-won guidance for those with bipolar disorder. His 24-step list—five of which are “exercise…move!”—provides both encouragement and valuable practical advice, including changes in mindset (fostering a sense of gratitude and humor, building a positive support network, finding purpose in charitable work) and lifestyle (keeping busy with interests, getting out of the house, and, of course, exercise). These are tips that most reference works on bipolar provide, but Audley, as a living illustration of someone who has learned to thrive and succeed despite the challenges of mental illness, provides a personal perspective that connects therapeutic concepts to real-life applications. And Audley himself is such a force of positivity and compassion that it’s impossible not to find motivation and hope in his example.
Audley Coley may not be a household name, but his life story is all the more compelling as a portrait of an ordinary, if exceptionally talented, person who has built a life of creativity and purpose out of enormously challenging circumstances. AUDLEY ENOUGH succeeds as a resource for those interested in learning about the personal experience of bipolar disorder and an uplifting object lesson in living successfully with mental illness.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader