My Mother The Bipolar Bear

From the Author: To my friends who fight the good fight of managing bipolar disorder: I applaud you. I know it is not all lollipops and toe socks-believe me! But I find that even today, with my “cub” grown, it is the simple, basic things that will keep you afloat. In addition to “stockpiling” the fruits of your “best you,” your family needs to see you putting in the time and effort every day to live a healthy lifestyle. I have been counseled that it is the essentials such as water, water, water, sunshine, exercise, healthy food, impeccable sleep hygiene, and of course a close relationship with a doctor you trust and follow. I am here to tell you that life with Bipolar disorder can be fun and fulfilling. The embarrassing moments you invariably encounter can be lived down by loveable you, who has probably received many gifts that outweigh the challenges. (If you weren’t a bipolar bear, you wouldn’t be you, right?) This book is for young and old-mother bears, father bears, cubs and anyone in the community who could benefit from being encouraged to tolerate well, and above all, have a bear-sized heart for those that are different. All the Best, Nancy Smith Earley

This book chronicles bipolar illness through the eyes of a 7-year-old "cub" of a bipolar mother. He takes us through the heartache, frustration and embarrassment he experiences, but poignantly shares his compassion for his mother. When the cub finds the courage to communicate his basic needs, mama bear finds some surprising and creative ways to help her child cope. The cheerful drawings and heartwarming ending will delight all ages and give parents, children and the caregiving community helpful ideas and a bear-sized heart. Many thanks to Northern Essex Community College and Children's Literature Professor Janet Clark

The Bipolar Bear Family is a story about a young cub who struggles to understand his mother's behavior and her subsequent diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. The story of The Bipolar Bear Family helps children of bipolar parents address such questions as: Is this my fault? Is it contagious? Can I fix it? According to the National Institute for Mental Health, Bipolar Disorder affects more than 2 million American adults. Further, we know that the dynamics of Mental Illness closely mirror the dynamics of alcoholism and addiction in its impact on the family system. By compassionately educating parents and children, the author hopes to make a life-long difference for these courageous families.

The system isn’t broken, Mr. Nibbles. It was designed this way. Theodore is a bear with wild mood swings. When he is up, he carves epic poetry into tree trunks. When he is down, he paints sad faces on rocks and turtle shells. In search of prescription medications that will bring stability to his life, Theodore finds a job with health insurance benefits. He gets the meds, but when he can’t pay the psychiatrist’s bill, he becomes lost in the Labyrinth of Health Insurance Claims. This witty and colorful tale follows the comical exploits of Theodore, a loveable and relatable bear, as he copes with bipolar disorder, navigates the inequities of capitalist society, founds a commune, and becomes an activist, all the while accompanied by a memorable cast of characters—fat-cat insurance CEOs, a wrongfully convicted snake, raccoons with tommy guns, and an unemployed old dog who cannot learn new tricks. Entertaining, whimsical, and bitingly satirical, Bipolar Bear is a fable for grownups that manages the delicate balance of addressing society’s ills while simultaneously presenting a hopeful vision for the world.

Thirty-three-year-old Shalanna Johnson has been through a lot in her life, but always manages to bounce back. Despite her challenges and less-than-ideal track record with men, she still has many lessons to learn. Shalanna’s sister, Terry, is fighting her own battles. Unemployed and unable to pay her rent, she is now facing eviction and considering a new career as an exotic dancer. Unfortunately, she cannot lean on Shalanna for emotional support. The two sisters have always been at odds with each other due to a lifetime of favoritism and competitiveness. But when the unspeakable happens and the two rivals are forced to face their secret, now only time will tell if they can overcome their haunting past or if they will both be destroyed forever. Bipolar Bears shares the intriguing tale of two sisters embroiled in a rivalry that shatters their world and takes them plunging downward to a dark place where they can only be healed by love and understanding.

When the author's mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the response was shock and confusion. What did it mean to be bipolar? How would it affect her mother and the members of her family? Grett became frustrated with her mother because she didn't understand the disease or her mother's behavior and believed that she could be normal if she just tried harder. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder weighs heavily on those millions of Americans who suffer the illness. But what about their families? More specifically, what about the children whose parents are diagnosed. My Mother's Bipolar, So What Am I? reveals the emotional, physical and mental toll this complicated disease takes on the children. Author Angela Grett sheds light on their common experiences, as well as coping mechanisms, to help adult children begin to heal through understanding and perhaps find a reason to be hopeful.

Using sources from a wide variety of print and digital media, this book discusses the need for ample and healthy portrayals of disability and neurodiversity in the media, as the primary way that most people learn about conditions. It contains 13 newly written chapters drawing on representations of disability in popular culture from film, television, and print media in both the Global North and the Global South, including the United States, Canada, India, and Kenya. Although disability is often framed using a limited range of stereotypical tropes such as victims, supercrips, or suffering patients, this book shows how disability and neurodiversity are making their way into more mainstream media productions and publications with movies, television shows, and books featuring prominent and even lead characters with disabilities or neurodiversity. Disability Representation in Film, TV, and Print Media will be of interest to all scholars and students of disability studies, cultural studies, film studies, gender studies, and sociology more broadly.