TAMING THE TIGER - a personal encounter with manic depression

Michael Morrissey
Polygraphia Ltd.- RRP $39.00

This is the story of one man's experience of manic depression.
In a well-written, revealing and compelling story much-published author/poet Michael Morrissey gives readers  a frank account of his journey through two serious bi-polar episodes.
Readers may well find their attitudes to mental illness challenged.

Polygraphia Ltd.
P.O.Box 167 Westpark Village,
Auckland 0661.

www.polygraphianz.com



Review from NZ Society of Authors Chapbook #5, May 2011:

In 1999, author Michael Morrissey experienced two manic depressive episodes which he has written about in his new book Taming The Tiger. The first occurred in Auckland, the second in Malaysia.


He describes the first episode as mysterious, beguiling, exhilarating, creative and mystical. His mind was filled with schemes to either make huge amounts of money or to help people. With the $100 billion he hoped to make from a simple diet scheme, he intended to save every endangered species on the planet, end burglaries and save children from TV addiction. He also was convinced – briefly – that he was the Messiah. Alas, no miracles were performed.


During the second episode, he created social embarrassment at a Chinese wedding, and had a night of hallucination which prompted him to think the spirit of his mother resided in the statue of the Goddess of Mercy. On his return to Auckland, he succeeded in saving 4000 books from being pulped but also experienced the darker side of mania – he suffered from severe paranoia and thought his wife had been taken over by an evil spirit. This delusion resulted in a short stay in psychiatric unit where he rapidly regained his sanity. 


Soon after, he began writing Taming the Tiger. While these early episodes resulted in a creative ferment that prompted the writing of poetry and a novel, later episodes resulted in abusive and anti-social behaviour. Consequently, he has resumed lithium medication.