Press reviews for: Family Experiences of Bipolar Disorder
The Independent Practitioner
For a counsellor, the book is a helpful resource in spelling out the implications for clients who may be affected directly by the disorder itself or by living with someone else affected by it. "Honouring the humanity of the people we care for" is a phrase I came across elsewhere, but which comes to mind now as I reflect on this book, which dignifies the reality of living with mental health conditions and shows the exemplary decency of those involved in writing this book.
Michel Syrett, Editor of Pendulum, the journal of MDF The BiPolar Organisation, UK
There are many books about bipolar but few focus on the impact the condition has on relationships within the family. Cara Aiken fills this gap admirably with her latest publication. In addition to valuable information about the symptoms and treatment of bipolar she uncovers, through a series of intimate and revealing interviews, the sense of loss, frustration, grief and longing that splinters the feelings between people with the diagnosis and their partners, parents, siblings and children - as well as the joy and relief when (and if) the individual makes a recovery.
Peter C. Ashenden, President and CEO of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, USA
This book is an engaging and enlightening account of the challenges of living with bipolar disorder. The author has been able to weave together stories, vignettes, and case reports that illustrate what it is like to have, or live with someone who has, a mood disorder. It is important to know that we can all learn from individuals that have the lived experience, and this book captures and illustrates their lives successfully.