Ellen Forney

• Forney was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder in 1998, shortly before her 30th birthday, while she was in what she later described as a manic episode. She has said that she initially did not believe the diagnosis. [2][3]
• For years afterward, Forney kept the diagnosis relatively private. She later said that Marbles, published in 2012, was the first time she told the story publicly in full and that she had not previously been “out” about having bipolar disorder. [4]

• Forney has described her manic periods as intensely energetic and euphoric. She slept very little, became highly social and sexually energized, and felt unusually powerful, creative and connected to the world around her. She has also said that the same periods could become compulsive, restless and difficult to control. [6]
• After the manic period surrounding her diagnosis, Forney fell into a deep depression. She has described depression as much more painful than mania, with very low mood, greatly reduced energy and difficulty thinking or working. She continued drawing during depression, but her work from that period reflected how restricted and overwhelmed she felt. [2][6]
• Forney has also spoken about how frightening it was to see aspects of what she had considered her personality—particularly the intensity and confidence she experienced while manic—listed as symptoms of bipolar disorder. She worried that treatment might flatten both her personality and her creativity. [3]

• Forney has described treatment as a long process of finding a medication combination that worked for her. Over roughly four years, she and her psychiatrist tried different medications and doses, including lithium, clonazepam and lamotrigine. Some were ineffective or caused side effects, while others eventually helped stabilize her mood. [6]
• In 2016, Forney wrote that she was taking lithium and lamotrigine. She has also described continuing to work with doctors around medication and sleep. [7][2]
• Forney has described regular sleep, good nutrition and support from people around her as important to her own stability. In Rock Steady, she also discusses exercise, routine, mindfulness, therapy and other coping tools as parts of a broader approach to managing mood disorders. [10]
• Forney has emphasized that medication needs vary from person to person. She has said that she expects to remain on medication indefinitely herself, while noting that some people may use medication for shorter periods depending on their circumstances and treatment plan. In Rock Steady, she advises readers to take their medication when it is part of their treatment. [8]

• Forney has described becoming increasingly stable after several years of treatment and medication adjustments. She has said that reaching stability did not mean losing her creativity or personality, which had been one of her major fears after diagnosis. [7][3]
• She has also described stability as something that requires continued attention rather than a permanent endpoint. In Rock Steady, she emphasizes sleep, routines, warning signs and other habits involved in maintaining stability. [2]

• Forney has said that publishing Marbles gradually changed how she saw her role. After hearing from readers who found the book useful, she began to identify more explicitly as a mental-health advocate and activist and decided that she wanted to do more than tell her own story. [9]
• Her later work has focused heavily on challenging the idea that people with bipolar disorder are inevitably violent, unpredictable or incapable of becoming stable. Rock Steady was written partly in response to readers who wanted practical guidance on living with a chronic mood disorder over the long term. [9]
• Forney has also extended that work beyond books through talks, teaching, graphic-medicine projects and bipolar wellness coaching. [1]

“I believe there needs to be more emphasis on maintaining stability for the long term.”

— Ellen Forney [10]