In one of the author’s favorite movies, The Saint, actor, Val Kilmer makes the following statement, “Those with the most difficult childhoods make the most interesting adults.”
Mental States: A Poet’s Journey is a volume of poetry that shares with the reader a life story that begins in the author’s formative years with childhood trauma, proceeds into adolescence, and follows a dark path into the development of a mental illness, Bipolar I Disorder. The poetry contained within this volume is divided thematically into seven chapters and explores topics such as the love of a mother, acceptance of a mental health diagnosis, and the nature of suffering in its various forms.
Throughout the book, the author engages the reader through poetry, pictures, quotations, and images drawn from her experiences in law school and later as a psychologist, to think deeply about the connections between early trauma and the evolution of neurosis. The author challenges us through her art to consider the premises we hold about normal vs. abnormal; sane vs. insane; and real vs. imaginary. This book is part memoir, part social commentary, and part catharsis through artistic expression.
The author wishes to inspire those who have faced difficulties, whether they be from an abusive beginning or from an arduous journey into the mental health system, to hold on to their unique person hood through the help of a loving support system, artistic outlets, therapeutic interventions, or merely by taking one day at a time. Remembering in the final analysis, that old adage, “Life is a journey; not a destination.”
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