More than a just a journey, Alfredo gives us a blueprint for humane treatment of mental illness. In 1981, twenty-three-year old Alfredo Zotti, began his lifelong challenge of living with Bipolar II Disorder. He quickly hit rock bottom, spending time as a homeless person and turning to street drugs and alcohol to medicate his symptoms. After hospitalization and careful outpatient monitoring, he became a successful musician and completed university. In 2004, he started to mentor sufferers of mental illness, and together, they developed an online journal. Alfredo now sees mental illness from a new perspective, not of disadvantages but advantages. In his words: "Having a mental illness can be a blessing if we work on ourselves." In this memoir and critique of mental illness, the reader will learn: * How empathic listening and being with someone can help calm that person's symptoms * The power of singing to create a safe space in a community * Why spirituality can be a key component in the healing process * The connections between mental illness, artistic expression, and people who think differently * The impact of childhood trauma on our psyche and its role in mental illness * The dangers of antipsychotics and antidepressants * The amazing connection between heart and brain and how we can cultivate it * The challenges of love and marriage between partners with Bipolar Disorder
