Up Then Down Then

When author Pat Taylor was only fourteen, her mother died unexpectedly. Now the woman of the house, Pat was responsible for the household chores, caring for her brother, and working at her father’s shop. Even after relatives stepped in to help, nobody understood Pat’s inner turmoil, her harrowing grief and developing mental illnesses. As she grew up, had a family of her own and a career she loved, Pat was in and out of hospitals—specifically, psych wards. Doctor after doctor, diagnosis after diagnosis, nothing seemed to have a lasting positive effect. Thirty-eight years after her mother’s death, Pat finally received the correct diagnosis: bipolar disorder.

Up Then Down Then: My Long Journey Through Bipolar Disorder is a memoir spanning over seventy years, from Pat’s childhood to the present day. With candor and humour, she shares her struggles with mental health, Canada’s medical system, and staying alive. Her story offers a glimpse into the roller coaster ride that is mental illness. With every low comes a high, but after years of resilience and finally finding the right support, Pat found balance and hopes to help others find their balance too.

As mental illness continues to be misunderstood and stigmatized, Up Then Down Then gives a nuanced perspective. The more we read stories like Pat’s, the more support we can provide to those in need. And the more we understand that we’re not alone on own our mental health journeys.