"It takes a whole village to raise a child," says the African proverb. Well, it takes a whole family -- and friends, doctors, community -- to help someone with manic depression.

The illness is now called bipolar affective disorder and manifests itself in many moods. I am 47 and I have lived with bipolar disorder since I was 16.

Life has not been easy. But as the saying goes, "the deeper the pain, the greater the joy." A sense of humor and finding joy in simple things helps me through each day.