No, I didn't spell maniacally wrong. This isn't about being a maniac, its' about being challenged with mania :

ma·ni·a·cal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (m-n-kl) also ma·ni·ac (mn-k) adj.

1. Suggestive of or afflicted with insanity: a maniacal frenzy.
2. Characterized by excessive enthusiasm or excitement: a maniacal interest in gambling.

ma·ni·a ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mn-, mny) n.

1. An excessively intense enthusiasm, interest, or desire; a craze: a mania for neatness.
2. A manifestation of bipolar disorder, characterized by profuse and rapidly changing ideas, exaggerated sexuality, gaiety, or irritability, and decreased sleep.

I want to underline the difference between mania and insanity. Why must, even in the dictionary, maniacal be followed with frenzy ? I want try to break down some of the common misconceptions about mental illness. They say there is a fine line between genius and insanity. They say it for good reason

I chose the name "Maniacly Challenged" because it has two meanings for me. In order to understand the meaning, you need to understand mania, and its' relationship with creativity and amazing accomplishments. Mania is a high performance motor: great accelleration, lots of torque, high speeds, and a greater risk of crashing into things. High octane living.

Bipolar disorder is a gift. It is the unexpected gift of being aflicted with mania, but at the high price of depression. These can happen together, or one at a time. They can happen a little, or a lot. For a long time, or just a moment. And best of all, you have little control.

Mania, in small amounts, is the life blood of the artist. It is the very essence of creativity and genius. It gives us the drive to do more than we dreamed. It gives us the belief that we can do anything, the energy to do it, and the delusion that we have to. In large amounts mania can spell dangerous behaviour, shopping sprees, drug use, and even strokes and heart attacks.

Once upon a time they called the gift "Manic Depression", and they would administer electroshock to anyone that showed symptoms. Times have changed. Now the suffers of bipolar disorder are protected like any other disability, and there are options. Today we can live normal lives. Some choose to medicate, and others (like myself) choose to ride the roller coaster.

So, why ManiaclyChallenged.com ? Two meanings :

1. Challenged with Mania : The state of mania can be tricky. The pitfalls are commonly known, the place that stereotypes have been born. The picture of the "maniac" is the one of an individual overcome by this state.
2. Not having enough Mania : of the politically correct genre of terms "developmentally disabled", "cash flow inhibited", "vertically challenged", etc. Referring to the state of not having enough mania in your life. I feel for those poor souls that will never experience the taste of the drive and ability that mania can manifest.

I am proud of this so called "disorder". It makes me a peer with such great minds as Edison and Tchaikovsky. And here, at ManiaclyChallenged.com, I hope to share with you the ups and downs of living (not suffering) with Bipolar Disorder.