by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

I love the new Showtime thriller, Homeland (Sundays, 10 pm ET). From the producers of 24, Claire Danes plays a CIA agent on the hunt to reveal the truth about a recovered American POW-turned terrorist. Dane’s character is highly effective, smart, stable, oh, and by the way… she has a mood disorder. The network says it has been its "highest rated freshman drama ever." 

The character has genius espionage skills, but she can’t convince her boss to trust her instincts. There is also a sense of panic and intensity about her, to which those who live with a family member with a mood disorder can relate. But, it’s subtle.  Outwardly, Dane’s character appears to be a hyper-focused, driven woman trying to balance a job that would break most of us. Inwardly, she is self-doubting (aren’t we all) and we only see 30-second glimpses of her illness.

Because she’s a CIA spy, she sneaks medication from her physician-sister so there won’t be a trace on her medical record.  She visits her dad, who is not coping with his illness as well, and reminds him that anti-depressants may make him truly manic, or may just feel manic, in comparison to feelings of depression. She stays up all night on video surveillance, and crosses boundaries with the “subject” in order to learn more about him. But if you didn’t know she has a mood disorder, you would never know.

Its great entertainment and I love it for that alone. But I really tune in every weekend because it accurately portrays a character with a mood disorder honestly and accurately. So often, we see characters with a mood disorder as homeless, homicidal maniacs, or otherwise dysfunctional. In contrast, what a 30-something wouldn’t give to be Claire Dane’s character.

I recommend that you watch Homeland (if you have access to Showtime and your young children are in bed. In typical Showtime fashion, there is plenty of skin.) Beyond that, it gives parents raising children with mood disorders a reason for hope. Its not all doom and gloom in mood disorder land. We are a community who supports one another, but we also give each other hope. This show, accurately portrayed, give me hope.

Do you have a child who lives a productive life?  Share your story here!