{"product_id":"mentalish-a-memoir-of-insanity-and-the-search-for-stability-9781038308474","title":"Mental(ish): A Memoir of Insanity and the Search for Stability","description":"Mental(ish) is a raw and unflinching exploration of Melissa Pang Howard's journey through c-PTSD, chronic illness, and medical negligence. Diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder at nineteen, she unravels the experiences that shaped her before and after her diagnosis, uncovering how childhood trauma and a rigid cultural and religious upbringing contributed to her struggles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith candor and vulnerability, Melissa examines the ways these early influences distorted her self-perception and fueled the challenges of living with a severe mood disorder. She shares the untold truths of navigating Bipolar 1-its volatility, its darkness, and its impact on her identity-while also highlighting the strategies, treatments, and personal revelations that have helped her not just survive but thrive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMental(ish) is both a personal reckoning and a testament to resilience, offering insight, validation, and hope to those on similar paths.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHoward, Melissa Pang:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Melissa Pang Howard is a blogger for the International Bipolar Foundation (ibpf.org), where she shares her lived experiences and the tools that have helped her maintain stability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe has volunteered with The Canadian Roadmap for Bipolar Disorder, a CREST.BD initiative focused on developing a consensus on psychosocial care and research for people with bipolar disorder. This project brings together individuals with lived experience, researchers, and other stakeholders in a deliberative dialogue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMelissa is also a panelist for the bipolar AMA on Reddit, the largest global team of bipolar disorder experts. This collaborative includes 70 panelists from 13 countries, ranging from psychiatrists and psychologists to scientists, researchers, and individuals living with bipolar disorder, all representing the CREST.BD network.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMelissa has recently taken on a new volunteer role with Postpartum Support International (PSI) www.postpartum.net as a peer mentor. In this position, she provides support to mothers and their families through the perinatal and postnatal journey. PSI offers direct peer support, trains professionals, and connects families to vital resources. Through her work, Melissa is helping others navigate the challenges of this vulnerable time, offering the kind of guidance she wishes was available to her during her own experience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMelissa lives in Toronto with her spouse, two children, and adored dog. You can find Melissa on Instagram @mindful_movement_for_mania","brand":"FriesenPress","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51735735697682,"sku":"9781038308474","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2f095c38-4e97-4211-8f85-bcd253ae9aa4.jpg?v=1763543414","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/mentalish-a-memoir-of-insanity-and-the-search-for-stability-9781038308474","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}