Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness

Retired U.S. Army general Martin bares his struggles with bipolar disorder in this stirring debut memoir. In 2014, after reports of erratic behavior, the 58-year-old Martin was given the choice of resigning from his position as president of the National Defense University or being fired, less than a year from his scheduled retirement. The blow was magnified by the fact that, a week earlier, Martin had received a clean bill of health and was deemed “psychiatrically fit for duty.” Following his dismissal from the NDU, however, Martin came to acknowledge that he had spiraled into psychosis—sprinkling holy water around his house, speaking nonstop at professional events—during his final months at the school. He was soon diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which had been triggered during his 2003 service in Iraq after he was promoted to a high-stakes leadership role, and “exploded” in the early 2010s, when Martin was in his 50s (though he showed signs of “hyperthymia,” or continuous mania, as early as adolescence). A strong support system, including a loving family and proper medication, helped Martin achieve stability after leaving the NDU and retiring from the military to live in Florida with his wife. He acknowledges his good fortune and, in addition to sharing the raw details of his illness, mounts a full-throated call for better diagnosis, treatment, and discussions about mental health in the U.S. This soul-baring volume has the potential to change lives. (Sept.)