7"Religious" manic episodes, bouts with depression, in and out of hospitals, medication, lots of medication, several different psychiatrists and counselors, expensive supplements-that was my life for over twenty years. But God has granted relief now for over twenty years. I still struggle, mostly with insomnia, in the form of being unable to fall asleep. And now I can tell if I'm getting manic and I can "put on the brakes." My support system has been incredible over the years. It is my hope and prayer that my story can offer hope to others with a psychiatric label. Luann lives in Crete, IL, with her husband, Tim, and young son, Jacob. They have two married children: a son in FL, and a daughter in WI, and they enjoy their eight grandchildren immensely. Luann teaches private band lessons to woodwinds in 4th through 8th grade, she has a few piano students at home and plays keyboard or organ for church occasionally. Her music bag says, "God gives me the gift of music. My gift to Him is to share it with all my heart."