Fracture: A Memoir

Experience bipolar and addiction from the inside out. Arlen rescues a trapped person on the riverbank. Arlen struggles to make the call to his family for help. We see the origin of his drug problem with unresolved mourning and guilt over the death of his father and brother. We watch his escapades and adventures with the various drugs and parties in Banff and Vancouver. He rock climbs, mountain bikes, waiters, and skis under the influence. We follow Arlen through his geographical escapes and slip with him into drug-induced insanity. Arlen does make the call for help and is picked up by his brother and taken to Detox. Arlen fights with sanity and falls into a suicide attempt and we trace his steps into the psyche center. He climbs back into sanity and faces the Detox and Rehab program. Arlen finds new life in religion and works at a camp and goes to college. He works the northern mission field and cracks up. We follow him back in time to the Garden of Eden and beyond sanity. He is once again hospitalized and strikes his manic-depressive cycle and stride. He wrestles with the illness and doctors and medication. The psyche ward is the backdrop for his theatre. Arlen fights with the illness to bring it to a balance. His manias become too dangerous with a back flip in the river. He gives up his highs and lessens his depression. He heads to Cuba to counter the winter effect that induces his mania. Arlen goes high and frolics with the locals and tourists. He loses his mind and talks to his dad in the mirror and discovers his healing forgiveness. Arlen visits locals in their home and leaps from psychosis toward sanity and peace.