I read Sean’s book, and I genuinely enjoyed it. It offers a refreshing perspective on bipolar experience—one that I think many people could benefit from, especially those living with bipolar disorder. His videos and writing are well worth exploring. But before diving in, I want to offer a few clarifications.
1) This is not an argument against medication. Some people simply cannot function without meds, and I fully respect that. If your medication helps you cope—if it softens the extremes and gives you stability—then it’s serving your needs, supporting your goals. No one has the right to take that away from you.
2) That said, I believe psychiatry often mistakes difference for disorder. Many psychological experiences—especially those that fall outside societal norms—are quickly labeled as pathological. Doctors, trained primarily to treat symptoms with medication, often approach conditions like bipolar or ADHD the same way they would treat infections: something to be suppressed, controlled, or eliminated.
But the mind isn’t bacteria. It’s not a mechanical problem to be solved with a pill. We don’t fully understand what consciousness even is. Every experience we have is filtered through our psyche, shaped by perception, memory, and context. The assumption that an unusual mental state must be “fixed” chemically ignores the depth and complexity of what it means to be human.
I’m not saying medication is wrong. I’m saying the medical model often lacks nuance and compassion. Mental states that disrupt social expectations aren’t always signs of something broken—they may be signs of something trying to break through.
3) On Sean’s “one and done” claim: Sean initially describes his experience as a singular awakening that won’t repeat, but later he seems to imply this is not a ‘one and done’ experience. The ‘one and done’ view risks oversimplifying the spectrum of bipolar experience.
In my case, my manic episodes have been rare but profound—separated by many years. One occurred in 2016, and the next didn’t emerge until April 2025. That’s a nine-year span. I’ve also experienced periods of rapid cycling. The nature of this condition varies dramatically between individuals.
That doesn’t invalidate Sean’s experience. Quite the opposite. His story adds to the rich, multifaceted understanding of what we call bipolar. I just want to caution against turning personal awakening into a universal rule. Spiritual growth, like healing, often happens in stages. Very little in life is truly “one and done.”
