mercurial scribe

Despite the fact that to those of us afflicted with this “brilliant madness”, this illness is probably one of the most daunting source for various valid (and invalid) excuses and an endless source of problems. However, FICO doesn’t seem to give one rip that you’re surviving a serious brain disorder; they only care that your creditors were paid late or not at all.

Which is real nice, you know, since our medical bills are significantly higher than, say, the mentally “uninteresting”. I’ve heard quotes of $6,734 on average in the UK and between $11,720 to $624,785 in the States (depending on the number of manic episodes) as lifetime costs for medical care. I can tell you that for the past 3 years, I’ve averaged $3,000 per year and that’s because I’m without medical insurance. That’s not to mention the lost income from the total 8 months of lost work over the past 3 years… so total annual cost? $7,000 a year or $583 a month!

No wonder I’m broke.

What is to be done, then? Believe it or not, there are things you can do to help spare yourself unnecessary hardship and help save your credit score.

► Talk to your creditors when you’re headed into trouble. Most of the time, they really are willing to work with you. I’ve done this by written communication (email or snail mail) mostly because when I’m in crisis, I’m in no shape to have a coherent business discussion. A formal letter has several advantages; a paper trail for future evidence of transactions and agreements, the ability to revise for coherence and clarity, and the ability to designate a General Power of Attorney.

► What is this General Power of Attorney, you ask? It is a very useful legal tool you can use when you and your trusted loved one (in my case, the Husband) know that you are not of your right mind. Wikipedia describes it as “an authorization to act on someone else’s behalf in a legal or business matter”. For “mental incapacity”, a special duration clause must be inserted to continue during your incapacitation and another clause for when and how this P.O.A. is overturned. Often, companies prefer to use their own P.O.A. that you can request, fill out, get notarized and return. But please be aware that any third party may reject your Power of Attorney, though in most cases, creditors and the like will want to work with you as much as possible in order to ensure they get their money. Some excellent and free copies of a Power of Attorney form can be found here and here.

On a more personal and perhaps anecdotal note, my own Power of Attorney designates my Husband as my executor in business, financial and medical decisions. It may only go into effect in the event of his, my and my mother’s agreement that I am unwell and all sign it - in addition to a notary - as verification. The P.O.A. can only be overturned if my physician, my Husband and I all sign another document verifying I am well enough to tend to my own affairs.

► Also, if you feel yourself not quite right or unstable mood-wise, hand over all credit and debit cards over to a loved one (possibly the same one you designate in your P.O.A.) who should immediately put you on a cash-only diet. Also have them take the car keys and sharp objects out of the house if you are prone to self-harm. It’s a lot to do, I know, but it’s the difference between being one of the 1 in 5 sufferers of bipolar who die by their own hand or surviving this horrendous brain disease for another day.

And a couple more tips for when you are stable and well to help stabilize your financial situation and hopefully that all-important FICO score:

► GET OUT OF DEBT. A company like Credit Solutions or the like can help you get out of debt and much faster than you could on your own. Build up your emergency fund, save for retirement and for a rainy day. Get yourself in the best financial state possible so that when crisis strikes (because when you’re bipolar, it is not a matter of if but when) you’ll be much better prepared to deal with it in an effective matter. And THAT will lessen your anxiety and stress throughout your mania or depression.

► Keep a mood chart. You can find some wonderful samples at Psychiatry24×7, ManicDepressive.org, and for those who have my fetish for online tools, MoodTracker. (I just recently started using Mood Tracker and so far, I’m quite impressed.) These tools can help you figure out your stressors, your general mood pattern and when it is time to call in for backup. You can even set a certain mood level which will indicate to you and your loved one that makes the aforementioned P.O.A. and crisis precautions immediately go into effect, that way it makes the call more objective and less subjective, preventing possible valid reasons for you to go off on your loved one for trying to “parent” or “control” you. (Yeah, I’ve had that fight too.)

Your illness, just like your finances, are your responsibility. Believe it or not, you can live a productive and good life despite your fubared brain if only you prep yourself and those you love for what may lie ahead.