About the Author
Angela Grett of Brentwood, Tenn., has experienced first-hand the difficulties caused by a parent’s bipolar disorder. She felt her world “crumble” at age 4 when she was taken away from her mother with no explanation, not knowing if she would ever see her again. To find healing as an adult, she had to overcome self-doubt, broken relationships and heartbreak. Now a highly successful author, consultant and speaker, Grett is eager to help others by telling her own story. Her experiences have earned her the self-designated degree of CBP: Child of a Bipolar Parent. “My mission is to help others overcome the difficulties of having a bipolar parent, spouse, co-worker or family member,” said Grett, who recently released her stirring new book, "My Mother’s Bipolar, So What Am I?. “I’m working to bring families together and to reduce the stigma attached to bipolar and other mood disorders by informing people about the realities of the condition. The impact of the disorder on others is rarely addressed in today’s society.” My Mother’s Bipolar, So What Am I?, which was released in 2006, reveals the emotional, physical and mental toll this complicated disease takes on the children of bipolar parents. The book features heartfelt stories from adults who grew up in a bipolar household, common challenges borne out of their childhood experiences, concrete medical information for healing, compassionate advice for coping, and research that provides hope for a better future. “I believed that if I took good care of my mommy, she would never go away again,” Grett continued. “I lost my childhood that day. It’s not that I never played or had fun again, but my idea of fun changed. My new perception was that my role was to take care of myself.” Broken relationships complicated Grett’s difficult childhood. Her father Clarence and mother Wanaa divorced when she was 12 years old. Her first stepfather, who was an alcoholic, moved Grett and her two young siblings into his tumultuous Nashville home. By the time Angela was a young adult, her mother had married and divorced three times. Despite these challenges, Grett earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in strategic planning from the University of Pittsburgh. During the past 20 years, she has held finance- and technology-related executive positions for companies such as Spheris Operations Inc., Marconi Communications, Affiliated Computer Services, U.S. Steel, PPG Industries, Equitable Resources, and the HCA Corp. Today she is the founder and corporate executive of Ascynd, a project management firm located in Brentwood, Tenn. 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 that 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 sometimes erratic and manipulative behavior. “A light bulb came on,” Grett noted with a laugh. “I wrote the outline for my book in 15 minutes.” 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 behaviors woven throughout their stories: health problems, 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 believe there are many people suffering with this illness because they have not been diagnosed or treated.” Now an acclaimed author, speaker and educator, Grett has developed an educational talk specially tailored to meet the needs of mental health support organizations, employee support groups, and businesses of all kinds. The 30- to 45-minute audiovisual presentation features a speech, question and answer session with discussion, and Power Point. Recent appearances include the National Alliance for Mental Illness in Nashville, the Palette Gallery in Nashville (Mental Illness Awareness Week), the All About Women conference in Nashville, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness in Memphis, Tenn. “I am very grateful for (Angela’s) coming to Memphis and speaking at one of our NAMI meetings,” said Kent Usury, a board member representing the organization’s Memphis chapter. “Her presentation sparked much conversation during and after the meeting.” Grett now plans to establish a new non-profit organization to help individuals who have struggled with having a parent, spouse, friend, co-worker or family member who suffers from bipolar and other mood disorders. For more information about Grett or to book her for an upcoming event, call (615) 309-0326, visit the contact page, or write Angela in care of Children of Bipolar, 641 Old Hickory Blvd., #114, Brentwood, Tenn. 37027.
WHAT OTHERS SAY about When I picked up Angela Grett's book, ‘My Mother’s Bipolar, So What Am I?’, I couldn't have predicted the impact it would have on me. This well written and well-researched book brought enlightenment to my past relationships. I could see the demonstration of bipolar behavior in my mother and more profoundly in my ex-husband. I highly recommend this book. Noelle A. Rose,Nashville, Tenn. While reading ‘My Mother's Bipolar, So What Am I?’, I felt like I was reading about my own childhood. My father’s personal life was characterized by many of the issues described in your book. I now believe my father likely suffered from bipolar disorder. I am finally able to find some measure of forgiveness and some understanding of the loneliness and sadness that my father must have felt while living through untreated mental illness. AnonymousI am very grateful that you came to Memphis to speak at one of our NAMI meetings. Your presentation sparked much conversation during and after the meeting. Kent UsuryNational Alliance on Mental Illness, Memphis Chapter Memphis, Tenn. TV and movie media have misrepresented what a bipolar person is really like. After reading Grett’s book, you feel much better about admitting that you are bipolar or have a bipolar family member. You will also have up-to-date information about bipolar research and practical help for family members who deal with a bipolar loved one. Yvonne Perry This is a wonderful book! The stories are as interesting as they are well written. I will surely recommend this book to everyone I know! Anonymous Being in practice as a Certified Hypnotherapist for over 20 years, I have not actively sought to include those suffering from symptoms of bipolar disorder because even I, as a therapist, was somewhat intimidated by the array of symptoms and the horror stories I had heard. Angela's book changed all of that for me! I was blown away by the way she was able to define bipolar behavior in layman’s terms, and bring it all home with the various true stories in this wonderful book. Dennis Nelson, CHTNashville, Tenn. |
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