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East Texas Woman Talks About Life With Mental Disorder

It's an illness that affects one in every four Americans.  Today, almost everyone knows someone suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder.  One very brave East Texan knows the impact mental illness has on both a person and society.  She is now sharing her life with Bipolar in a book, in hopes society will better understand the illness.  

For more than 25 years, Melody Stroud of Chandler has been living with Bipolar Disorder.

"I was under a lot of stress at the time," said Stroud.  "I began not to sleep.  I had paranoia that people were watching me, following me.  I had extreme energy, and then I became to where I had thoughts that were not real and basically lived out of reality."  After admitting herself into a mental health facility, Melody learned she was bipolar, something that has taken her years to accept.

"For years I denied that I had a mental illness, so it's been a process up until the last two years where I have really come to terms with my illness and not ashamed to talk about it."  Two years ago, Melody began writing a book about her life with Bipolar called In My Head, giving details that are not often talked about.

"The details of the thoughts, of your behavior, of the treatment that is available," said Stroud.  "A lot of those thoughts like I said were so horrific, it's hard to even get it out of your mouth." Melody says she wants her book to be a resource for families because it was her family that has helped her live a more stable life.

"My family was so very supportive," said Stroud.  "If it hadn't been for them, truly I wouldn't know where I would be."  It's a success story, Melody says she hopes will encourage others suffering, or know someone suffering from the illness.

"There is hope," said Stroud.  "There is hope."  Melody says she hopes to have her book finished within the year.

Molly Reuter, Reporting. mreuter@kltv.com