"Finding strength in the strangest places."                                                                                                                                         







                                                                                                                                                                                          Bipolar Richard's Almanac



“I cracked up – for the first time - on June 4, 1988, three weeks short of completing my Masters degree in
Psychology. Some would say I had a nervous breakdown. The psych ward doctors said it was major depression. I say that
I saw just how evil my sin is in the eyes of God and it scared the hell out of me . . . I cobbled together some mad reality
and blew a fuse . . . I lost my mind, never to be the same again. Thanks be to God! Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ."
                
                                                                                                              - from the first chapter



"I am honored to endorse this book.  Not only does it chronicle the journey of one man's pain and ultimate redemption;
but will provide the essential hope to many who are commonly afflicted.
This story will declare good news to the poor and proclaim freedom to the captives!!"

                        Rev. Bruce Edwards, Allison Park Church of the Assemblies of God

Richard Jarzynka (Ya’Zhynka) earned his masters degree in psychology from Duquesne University in 1989. He attended Law School on a full-
tuition, merit-based scholarship until being expelled within one day of the Dean learning that he has bipolar disorder. Rich worked as a counselor,
psycho-therapist, and program director with troubled teens and their families from 1984 - 2003. He is currently studying toward ministry
certification with the Assemblies of God. And he is not offended by being called crazy, goofy, screwy, loony, or by any other synonym for mentally
ill.



    "When we feel like we want God to be closer to us, it may be that He is standing right there, but we have put up a wall
between us and Him. We tear down that wall when we give God praise.
    "Sometimes, it may feel like God is not loving you. Please know that He is - even when it may not feel that way. Loving is
what he does. Always.
    "There have been times when I have felt that God is not helping with bipolar. I have learned that in those times I must
praise Him still. Because He is still God. Still worthy. And I know that in All things - even bipolar - God works for good.
(Romans 8:28) To God things like bipolar can be used to bless me. To make me more like Christ. He has blessed me greatly in
bipolar. Even in the times when it hurt - and hurt bad. I could not always see the blessings until later. But it changed my life
when I realized that He really is working for my absolute best, in all things. If I can remember that when I am suffering,
then, somehow, the suffering is altered.  God is in it with me. And, though the suffering may not cease completely, if God is
with me in it, then it cannot stay the same.  It must come under His control and be used for my good. That, at the very least,
makes it bearable. His grace is, indeed, sufficient for me." (2Corinthians 12:9)
                                                                                                             -Richard Jarzynka, 1 bipolar type
                                                                         
Locked on a Psych Ward.
Expelled from Law School.
Dead-Broke and Brain-Disordered.
BLESSED
with
BIPOLAR
     BLESSED with BIPOLAR
                                                                                           by
                                   Richard H. Jarzynka (Ya'Zhynka)   
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