This is a brave video, Jason, and thank you for sharing your story. You sound sane, calm and healthy. God could and would if He were sought ---------- TED BURKE http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VPUDjK-ibQ&feature=relmfu
Bravo. I applaud your courage and caring. Please continue to take care of yourself, and have the support that will enable you to keep doing that. Your example will, without a doubt, be of benefit to someone else who struggles with mental illness. Good on ya, mate. And God bless.
JASON! I want to give you a huge hug right now. From the brief time I had with you in New Orleans, I knew the bipolar was a huge part of the troubles you where dealing with. The "hellhounds on your trail" We even discussed it as well as the self-medicating. I've tried to encourage treatment in what limmitied ways I could, but knew that in reallity, you would have to come to that on your own.
My wife has suffered from bi-polar, and luckily , our marriage survived until she finally got good treatment. We are now going on thirty years of wonderful companionship together.
I had a feeling when I saw the weight gain - that you where getting treatment and I am so so happy to hear that you are.
Thank you for sharing this. I know it will be helpfull to many others.
You are still, and always will be - a monster on the harp, - an inspiration for many of us, and now an inspiration for many others in a different way.
Much Love
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Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2012 9:35 AM
Thanks for posting that Jason,especially for people that look up to you and anyone that struggles with mental/addiction disorders.Including myself.
On another note,I remember Sean showing up with his parents at the open mic at Fatt Matts Rib Shack,I think he was 16 at the time.He got snatched up quick by the local bands PDQ.
Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2012 4:30 PM
Jason, Thank you. Very heartening and for me a positive I needed as it relates to Sean. I knew him from age 16 and I'm sure your message would mean a lot to him. The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research, http://seancostellofund.org/
Jason, I'm am thankful for the light that has been shed on your spirit. And I applaud your courage in the life changing decision you made: to not be afraid of living, instead of not being afraid to die. It changes everything doesn't it? While you were in treatment last year I posted this:
I trust that if he(Jason) so chooses he will do whatever it takes to create a program he can work that will let him thrive. It won't be the program he had, but if he wants what he has lost, he can make the choices that will give him back his life. This is his walk, his life. I believe Jason will do what is right for Jason. You know, some people are grateful for their relapses because it led them to an even better life. Some songs have more verses than others. I can't wait to hear his next verse!
That was just a little over a year ago. I want you to know your "next verse" was well worth the wait. Thank you for being Jason Ricci.
Jason, this is a remarkable video. You show an amazing understanding and awareness of treatment and problems associated with bipolar disorder. Your presentation is warm, insightful, mature, and shows caring and a willingness to self disclose to inform others.
In my 38 year human services career in mental health and child welfare I saw numerous brilliant and creative people struggle with the mood swings of bipolar disorder, often harming themselves and their families during their struggle. Some who had become stable on medication would convince themselves they no longer needed medication and would stop taking it. Often they would do OK for a short time, then begin to struggle, self medicate, and ultimately have terrible consequences.
Thank you for sharing your situation. I hope others who are struggling will see the video will pay attention and learn.
You continue to be a talented and creative individual, an amazing harmonica player and teacher, and I have confidence that you will continue to develop and expand your creative expression even while continuing stability on medication. ----------
I'm not able to veiw Jasons video till tommorrow - but I would like to add my admiration and love to the great Jason ricci. :) Micheal Jackson may be the "King of Pop" -- BUT Jason is certainly the the "King of Harp"...and one cool dude!
Outstanding Jason,I doubt you will lose much of your creativity,in fact you will learn to channell it better.You have great teaching ability,a very talented lad indeed.Steel up and rock steady.
Brave and inspiring. Thank you Jason. Please keep making wonderful music. I saw you live at the Beach Shack in Cocoa Beach and was in awe of your skill and soul. God bless you.
hey everyone everyone's comments touched me very very deeply! Thank you all and THANKS for fixing the title lol. Orphan: your post in particular was incredibly special to me so poetic and beautiful and thank you so much. The decision to make this video came to me in a dream it took me a while to process everything and was hard to get everything in there in 15 min. There's a lot more I could say about the disorder and how it affects music and ways Im discovering to get around that. Thanks again everyone! Moon Cat
Jason, just keep on keepin' on. Many people who have this often take a long time to face up to it and deal with, much like a lot of other problems or vices they may have in their lives. It takes a helluva lot for anyone to really face up and deal with things. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Jason, just keep on keepin' on. Many people who have this often take a long time to face up to it and deal with, much like a lot of other problems or vices they may have in their lives. It takes a helluva lot for anyone to really face up and deal with things. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Moon Cat...That 1 in 5 statistic is eye opening....I have friends who are bi-polar and a best friend who is dual diagnosis, (bi-polar + has drug and alcohol addiction ghosts) to deal with... I work in the Mental Health field and I'm around folks all day who are attempting to learn to live with their illness's. We all need to reach out for help in our lives one way or another and it is those who do seek help who have the best chance of not only surviving this journey through life, but living a life that is fulfilling and a blessing to others.
I didn't have time to post on this last night. Great video Jason. I'm not bi-polar, but I've got depression, anxiety and OCD problems. I take my medicine (an SSRI) despite the fact that it makes me a little fuzzy and foggy and distracted, as well as making Swiss cheese of my memory. As long as I'm on it though I don't feel suicidal. The SSRI's seem to take the bottom out of the lows. I still have good days and bad days, but the bad days aren't spent sitting deciding which pills would work best to end it all.
Thanks for making this video. Everyone knows someone who experiences this or other mental health issues. It's important to be able to talk about it in an open honest manner, like you've done here. You are to be commended greatly for this, and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to hear it from you. ----------
Jason, that was very touching, informative and telling of your humilty. Glad to see you looking well and also being admittedly aware of the demons that have haunted you. Best wishes for your continued health and success. ---------- Todd L. Greene
Jason, your first-hand experience and understanding of your condition, how it affects you as an artist, and how you've discovered ways of being both stable and creative, is flat-out invaluable. Brilliantly presented. Thanks and all the best. ----------
My best wishes to you and I hope the future road is smoother. No obvious problems with the improv either. Inspiring! ---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
Jason...I never knew but then again how would I? I wish you all the best. You know I will help if I can. Call anytime...if just to chat (#'s the same). You have influenced and helped so many since the old Nucklebuster days. With this video that list just grew. Forever giving...I could always see your light brother...let it shine! Johnny
Thanks for sharing. Stay healthy and keep sharing the music ---------- Twitter ~ BossoBrewingCo Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/bag-5 YouTube Channel: SummitPorter
Very moving, brave and inspiring, Jason. One of my favourite people is the utterly brilliant English polymath Stephen Fry, who also has bi-polar. He did a great TV series on it a few years ago, including quite a lot of discussion pro-and-con of Lithium. Here are YouTube clips from the series:
Hugs to you Jason! I'm sure making this video was good for Jason Ricci, but the cool thing is helping others with the disorder and educating us that do not understand it. Thank you!
Thanks for making this video Jason! It's just mesmerizing seeing you tap into your creativity. I appreciated the education on bipolar disorder as well. ---------- Rob Six Eight Time
Jason, What a great video - honest and informative in so many ways. It took a lot of courage to do it. I hope you can keep progressing with both managing your illness and working on your music while on medication. You probably know about this, but Patty Duke has written a couple of books on this disorder (which she suffers from as well) which are highly acclaimed. You seem to have an excellent handle on things, but perhaps if you haven't looked at the books they might be helpful. Best wishes, Rich Greenberg
Let me add my thanks. My family is dealing with my 22yr old stepdaughter, who has been diagnosed w/ Type I rapid-cycling BPD. She is in deep denial even after two forced hospitalizations for severe mania. She is self-medicating w/ Adderal, and to make things worse, she is a mom to my 1 yr old grandson. They both live with us.
I sent her the link to your vid, but it only made her angry. I hold onto your story with hope because you were also in denial.....until you weren't.
I hope the "sun's gonna shine in her backdoor someday."
Jason- thanks so much for your story. I have been fighting this for 40 years and I am 60 years old. It seems that there are different manifestations of this disorder and mine have been weird. I was forced to drop the wall that I had built around myself and forgive myself for decades of denial. I now force myself to stay socially engaged and I can feel the symptoms change my mood. I am drug-free and am handling it. Believe it or not, Gussow has been a big factor in my understanding- his inspirational lessons have given me a new outlook on life, not to mention the fact that I am improving dramatically as a harp player. Good luck to you and thanks for listening.
i agree theres a big difference, a great difference between bipolar and attention seeking drama queen. famous people who drink and drive, hit cops, shoplift and adopt aids babies from africa, while buying sex toys encrusted with sierra leone blood diamonds, shouldnt be held to the same standards or have to do the same jail time that your average unfamous shlub should. bipolar people are gifted special artists, and we have to be more forgiving of them. but not borderline assholes like billy i hope he dies!
I wish you all the very best Jason, and thanks for sharing. My wife has recently been diagnosed with depression and I lost my best friend a few years ago to bpd, I never could get my head round why and your post sheds some light.
thank you and take care.
Greg.
---------- Living the dream and learning the blues one little trouble at a time.
