The Sound of Healing - Francis Arevalo

43:56 - Released April 27 2024

In the spring of 2015, I went through a four month period of mania. On the surface, it was a time of infinite energy, extreme optimism, and never-ending creativity. It felt amazing but unfortunately, it was not without its consequences. During this time, my thoughts raced, my ideas were incoherent, I was intensely irritable, my judgement was impaired, and I suffered deeply from insomnia, delusions, hallucinations, psychosis, and at its worst, suicidal ideation. My symptoms and actions led me to be detained by police and admitted into a psychiatric facility on April 27 for one month with minimal contact. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type I, and after leaving the facility, I slipped into a year-long period of depression, made worse by denial. After a year passed, tired of being tired, I attempted my first and only suicide. I woke up the next morning, still here, and stepped into the rest of my life.

I would not be here if not for the support, love and guidance of my family, friends and community. Without you, I would not have been able to begin navigating these traumas, broken relationships, massive debt, medications, the healthcare system, my lost sense of self, and this new path I didn’t ask for. This is a lifelong journey carrying this load but it is that much easier having you to walk with.

It has taken 9 years of daily work, reflection, learning, conversation and healing to get to this point, personally and musically, to learn how to say what I wanted to say about this journey. Now, I’d like to invite you into it.

I hope you find something in the project for you to take with you, for a moment or for the rest of your life. I hope it is of service to you. I hope it keeps you company. I hope it offers you the hope it does for me and more. All I ask is that you take time with this one and take care of yourself before, during, and after listening.

Thank you for holding space for me and my story. This is The Sound of Healing.