My illness is like a freight train that blindly follows its path, relying on its rails. If the train ventures off the path, for whatever reason, there is a certainty of impending disaster. I am that train.My journey with mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, has woven itself throughout my life for forty years. Whether it was active, or dormant, it has always lurked in the shadows. But, this illness, like any illness, can be managed and maintained.This story is particularly relevant for today's society. It is our charge to know a segment of our society who, for the most part, is misunderstood. When the Brakes Fail provides a forum for understanding the myths, the injustices, and the stigma of mental illness.