/24-7PressRelease/ - KIHEI, HI, July 19, 2008 - Larry Burke by all measures has a beautiful mind. He grew up in a small town were few people went on to College. Larry played football and that was his ticket to a bigger world. He attended Stanford University and excelled academically finishing near the head of his class. Then on to Harvard University to get his MBA where he was invited on to teach. Abruptly, one nondescript day, his journey worth living was halted by the onset of mental illness.
It's difficult to say what set off his illness. His brutal termination from Microsoft, his sisters senseless suicide or his midnight attack by an intruder. But when his depression struck while boarding a plane to LA, "the anxiety attack was devastating and the aftermath debilitating," said Larry.
Larry was trampled emotionally. The depth of the depression was bottomless. Doctor after doctor said he must go to a mental hospital immediately because the depression was severe and they thought he might hurt himself. The diagnosis was Bi Polar disease, a chemical imbalance of the brain he was probably born with and can expect to have his entire life. There was slim chance of recovery from this severe an episode. The anti-depressant medication the psychiatrist prescribed made him nauseous, and miserable. Larry said, "everyday was a minute by minute battle of anxiety, phobia, exhaustion and psychosis. The most devastating part was hallucinating because I felt a complete sense of losing my mind."
But he decided to take what little strength he had to pray and fight it. "I followed my instinct which turned out to be my best friend and checked into a day Clinic, the Meyer Clinic, rather than submitting to a mental hospital," explained Larry.
One night he went to a restaurant. "I ran out in hysterics unable to with stand the barrage of hallucinations," said Larry. That night he planned his move to return to the place of his youth. "My reasoning was the familiarity would mentally ground me and the love of my Aunt and Uncle would give me a feeling of security," explained Larry.
While in the S.F. Bay Area, he found a doctor who prescribed the right medication and talked him through his haunting visions. Larry exercised everyday, took his bi-polar medication, and rode the mass transit to over come his crushing anxiety attacks. And he learned how to reframe things and meditate... one day the hallucinations went away.
"I finally felt well enough that I applied for, and was accepted to an adjunct professorship at Seattle University," said Larry. He won a leadership award while there and later, back in his home on Maui, he worked for the Chancellor at Maui College teaching and developing 4 year degrees. In his spare time he fulfilled a dream to start an environmental magazine, The Green Maui Guide. The first online guide in Hawaii. "It great doing something I love that's also good for the community and society as a whole," said Larry.
Today, Larry takes his medication twice a day, see a psychiatrist, exercises and has talk therapy. Rather than spend his years in a mental hospital, he's thriving with the aid of medication, the right care and a loving wife. He's been able to live his dreams. "I want you to know that today there is hope not just to survive but thrive." Modern medicines have vastly improved and psychiatrists are better trained to treat the whole bi-polar person," exclaims Larry.
For Further Information Contact:
Larry Burke
808-269-2883
larryburkemaui@hotmail.comAbout Burke consulting
Larry Burke is an educator, writer and publisher. He consults companies and educational institutions. For further information please contact us at 808-269-2883
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