Karla, a beautiful, intelligent, and active nineteen-year-old college student, suddenly loses interest in everything she ever cherished. Within a month of her drastic change in behavior, she crawls beneath her bedcovers and hides for weeks. Her stunned family doesn't know what to do.

The next seven years are tumultuous for the family and unravel the delicate tapestry of their lives. Eventually diagnosed as bipolar, Karla lives out the major symptoms of the illness as her family tries to cope with her recurring depression and periodic mania.

Along with the pain, confusion, and tragedy, The Tattered Tapestry also records Karla's struggle for acceptance and peace. Told from a number of perspectives by different family members, this compelling story bravely exposes the love shared within the family even in trying times.

In readable, down-to-earth prose, A Balanced Life teaches family and friends what they can expect from those they love who have mental health problems. It offers nine clear-cut strategies for implementing a plan to support them, including how to: