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Breaking Into My Life: Growing Up with a Bipolar Parent and My Battle to Reclaim Myself
"I heard he was just diagnosed with a mental illness. Can you believe that?" The speaker is laughing so hard she can hardly get the words out. "That sure explains a lot."
Oh my God, I think to myself. They could be laughing about my mother.
In some ways things have not changed over the past thirty years. These women have absolutely no clue how hard it is on those suffering from mental illness or on those wrapped up in the lives of the mentally ill. No wonder I kept my story a secret. To be honest, I feel a little vulnerable sharing it now, but it's time.
I wonder how many of us are confronted with this insensitivity day after day. I know firsthand how hard it is to cope with this disease. I spent my childhood loving a mother who suffered from bipolar disorder and who at times lived with it untreated.
Her illness not only compromised her life, it compromised her family members' lives as well. This book is designed to help us understand the world of mental illness, challenge and transform the "suffer in silence" dynamic, and make mental illness more understood, treated and accepted.
Oh my God, I think to myself. They could be laughing about my mother.
In some ways things have not changed over the past thirty years. These women have absolutely no clue how hard it is on those suffering from mental illness or on those wrapped up in the lives of the mentally ill. No wonder I kept my story a secret. To be honest, I feel a little vulnerable sharing it now, but it's time.
I wonder how many of us are confronted with this insensitivity day after day. I know firsthand how hard it is to cope with this disease. I spent my childhood loving a mother who suffered from bipolar disorder and who at times lived with it untreated.
Her illness not only compromised her life, it compromised her family members' lives as well. This book is designed to help us understand the world of mental illness, challenge and transform the "suffer in silence" dynamic, and make mental illness more understood, treated and accepted.
- GenresMental HealthPsychology
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2018
37 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 7, 2018
Dickinson shines in this memoir that offers the gift of honesty to the reader and then to herself. I’d like a follow up on how her life changes after publishing this book. A++++
January 29, 2024
Great read, I couldn't put it down. The ending was not the resolution I hoped for and I hope the author continues working through her past.
April 3, 2019
Growing up with a mother, who is ill as well, has been very challenging. Reading this book has helped me feel a lot less alone. I found myself taking photos of paragraphs so I could reread them. I hope this book can help start more of a conversation on bipolar and how it affects everyone surrounding the loved one. This book is truly phenomenal and has been everything I needed and more.
March 29, 2019
For me, this was a very meaningful book as a grew up with a mom who was ill as well. I recommend this to anyone who grew up with this kind of challenge.
June 12, 2022
Relatable
I just finished this book and am in shock at the emotions I am having. This reminded me so much of my childhood, that I am just dumbfounded. I give 5 stars because of the authors tearjerking words and ability to express her feelings in a way that I have never been able to with my own bi-polar mother. I can only hope that this brings the same type of revelation to someone else. Thank you so much for writing this Michelle.
I just finished this book and am in shock at the emotions I am having. This reminded me so much of my childhood, that I am just dumbfounded. I give 5 stars because of the authors tearjerking words and ability to express her feelings in a way that I have never been able to with my own bi-polar mother. I can only hope that this brings the same type of revelation to someone else. Thank you so much for writing this Michelle.
August 9, 2022
Michelle's story is heartbreaking but also triumphant. It was interesting to hear about the impact of caregiving for a bipolar mother, since I am the caregiver of a bipolar daughter. I'm grateful Michelle is sharing her story to raise awareness of mental illness and its effect on a family.
August 15, 2019
Heart felt and authentic
I related a lot to this book and it was great to read this narrative of living with a parent struggling with mental health.
I related a lot to this book and it was great to read this narrative of living with a parent struggling with mental health.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews