James Wade Finds Relief in His Best Performance

Overcoming Challenges with Bipolar Disorder

James Wade, a 42-year-old professional darts player, has always been known for his incredible skill and determination on the dartboard. However, behind the scenes, he has faced a personal battle with bipolar disorder. Despite the challenges, Wade says he feels more relief than pride when he overcomes these obstacles and performs at his best.

Wade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2009, just as he was reaching the peak of his career. In the previous two years, he had won numerous major tournaments, establishing himself as one of the top players in the sport. Now, as an ambassador for the charity Bipolar UK, he continues to navigate the difficulties posed by his condition while maintaining his status among the elite players.

When asked about his feelings after achieving success, Wade shared that pride is not the first word that comes to mind. Instead, he focuses on meeting his own expectations. “Proud is probably not a word that would come into it really,” he explained. “When I do well, I tick my own boxes in my mind. I know I can still do it, and I still can do it.”

For Wade, success often brings a sense of relief rather than pride. He mentioned that when he performs at his best, he steps back and feels relieved because he knows he can still achieve it. However, he also acknowledges that he can make things harder for himself. “It’s nothing to do about anyone else; it’s about how I am and how I’m doing.”

Wade has identified several triggers for his illness, including a packed schedule. However, he is able to recognize the signs and manage them effectively. “I find it exhausting talking to a lot of people like you’re expected to because sometimes I just want to sit there and be quiet,” he said. “If you do that for six days, seven days, doing something that’s hard work for you, which other people take for granted, it mentally just drains you.”

During these tough times, he experiences negative emotions and even hates everything around him. However, he has found ways to cope. “It can happen that quick. I had a couple, three, four days like that, but I went fishing, came back and felt really refreshed, to be fair. So you know, quite lucky. It didn’t go into a big valley of doom and gloom, which you can do for weeks and weeks and weeks.”

In addition to his personal journey, Wade is actively involved in raising awareness and funds for Bipolar UK. As part of this effort, he is hosting a charity dinner on August 22 to support the cause. The event will feature appearances from darts players Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price, songwriter Nicky Chinn, and TV presenter Leah Charles-King.

Wade emphasized the importance of the charity, stating that Bipolar UK is one of the least-funded organizations. “Bipolar UK is probably one of the worst funded charities. You have so many link-ons to other charities that someone’s doing this for that charity, then you’ll have a link on to another. Bipolar UK are on their own. They get nothing, which is disgusting.”

He believes that using his platform to raise awareness is crucial. “I’m lucky enough to have a small platform, and some people, not very many people, listen to me. When we approach people that are known, we always ask them to talk about the illness, because they’re opening more doors, making more people aware of it, not just for treatment, but also for understanding of how people are at times.”

Wade also highlighted the serious consequences of untreated bipolar disorder. “The last thing you want is someone ending their life because they’re having a bad day with their illness. And that happens far too often.”

Tickets for James Wade’s “An Audience With Stars” at Old Thorns Resort & Hotel in Hampshire on August 22 are available online. This event is a vital step in supporting the important work of Bipolar UK and spreading awareness about mental health.