About The Book

More than 2.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disorder caused by an imbalance in the brain chemistry. It’s a complex illness that is difficult to diagnose. The stigma associated with bipolar disorder causes people to reject their diagnosis or not seek help. As a result, many people go untreated and their families feel the impact of their extreme mood swings.

In her new book, My Mother’s Bipolar, So What Am I?, author Angela Grett shares her personal experience and that of other children of bipolar. While we are beginning to hear more about bipolar disorder and the affect it has on the patient, there is little information or discussion about the impact on children with a bipolar parent.

In 2004, Grett reached a crossroads in her personal and professional life. By chance, during an “unexpected conversation” in Atlanta, she learned that a friend faced similar challenges with her mother. Feeling liberated, Grett began to talk openly about her experiences for the first time. Her research revealed there were no educational materials addressing the impact of the disorder on the children of bipolar parents. With better understanding, she became more patient with her mother’s mood swings and erratic behavior.

In January 2005, Grett hired ghost writer Yvonne Perry to help fine-tune her 142-page book, My Mother is Bipolar, So What Am I?. The project took all year.

For her book, Grett interviewed her brother, sister and mother, as well as dozens of adult children of bipolar parents. She also received invaluable insights from mental health experts across the country.

She said she found a thread of common parental issues and behaviors woven throughout their stories: health problems, wide mood swings, inconsistent discipline, bad choices, and unclear roles for parent and child.

“I discovered that every parent’s path was unique and every child’s pain universal,” said Grett, who now has a healthy relationship with her mother. “Healing comes through understanding. I have come to realize that my mother’s choices and behaviors were not always a reflection of her character, but a bi-product of her untreated condition,” added Grett. “That’s when I was able to forgive her. Through forgiveness, I was able to heal. During the process of writing my book, I educated myself about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and the impact those symptoms had on the children. Now I am ready to educate others.”

My Mother’s Bipolar, So What Am I?, which retails for $15, is featured in the Ingram Book Catalog and available through bookstores and Internet retailers such as Amazon.com.