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My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World
My Kind of Crazy was chosen as Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest 17th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards in the Inspirational category.I am an expert on being crazy. My kind of crazy is known as bipolar disorder. Although my case is more severe than most, I am not alone. I am one in four (approximately 61.5 million) adult Americans who suffer from a mental illness in a given year. This is a staggering statistic, and yet the stigma attached to mental illness persists. Those diagnosed with a mental illness suffer in silence due to the shame associated with it. There are many books that approach the subject from a clinical and/or psychoanalytical perspective. My book, however, focuses on the human experience of living with a mental illness. Being bipolar brings with it the very highs and lows of emotion, and my story is written in the same way. The journey on which I take the reader is not a depressing one. There is much humor to be found and many lessons to be learned after one is diagnosed as crazy. I bring the reader with me on the emotional rollercoaster that is my life. With my story, I hope to dismantle the shame and isolation that one with a similar illness might experience. In fact, I believe one must embrace his or her inner-craziness in order to heal, evolve, and move forward to help change the societal perception of mental illness. Not unlike diabetes, mental illness should be understood on a biochemical level, not be viewed as a character flaw. When the brain gets sick, it exhibits symptoms that need to be addressed and managed just like any other illness.
140 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2009
37 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 10, 2015
I got this book as a free Kindle download a while ago and like most books they sit on the back burner while other books get read.
I found this to be a highly addictive read, however, I felt the book description was a little misleading..It's a first point of view of what it's like to spend ALOT of time hospitalised for having Bipolar..I thought it was going to touch on what it was like living with it in the general world. Still this one little complaint didn't stop my interest in completing it.
She is truly lucky to have a super supportive family even after her suicide attempt which may of dashed all of that. I guess this book is really only a small snippet of her working out her life after that event. It directly affects her son very deeply and he even gets to write 2 chapters in the book giving his perspective on the whole thing and how he's learnt to deal with it.
I guess this book is showing you what's real and what's not and for Janine that's something that happens every day.
I found this to be a highly addictive read, however, I felt the book description was a little misleading..It's a first point of view of what it's like to spend ALOT of time hospitalised for having Bipolar..I thought it was going to touch on what it was like living with it in the general world. Still this one little complaint didn't stop my interest in completing it.
She is truly lucky to have a super supportive family even after her suicide attempt which may of dashed all of that. I guess this book is really only a small snippet of her working out her life after that event. It directly affects her son very deeply and he even gets to write 2 chapters in the book giving his perspective on the whole thing and how he's learnt to deal with it.
I guess this book is showing you what's real and what's not and for Janine that's something that happens every day.
August 11, 2012
On Amazon, I saw other people with Bipolar disorder go after the author as she told the only story that she could: her own. They were upset because they didn't describe their own issues.
I know being an author can be difficult because each one of your readers places their own expectations of the novel, unfair or not. I thoroughly enjoyed the book because I have a family member that deals with the disorder. While she doesn't deal with the loss of reality like this author, I do enjoy reading about others and the struggles that they face.
The author deals with a mental disability while I deal with a physical one but our lives have many similarities. The book was awesome and it was one of the few that I couldn't put down.
Highly recommended.
I know being an author can be difficult because each one of your readers places their own expectations of the novel, unfair or not. I thoroughly enjoyed the book because I have a family member that deals with the disorder. While she doesn't deal with the loss of reality like this author, I do enjoy reading about others and the struggles that they face.
The author deals with a mental disability while I deal with a physical one but our lives have many similarities. The book was awesome and it was one of the few that I couldn't put down.
Highly recommended.
October 13, 2012
I read a lot of stories about bipolar disorder and mental illness because it is an interesting subject to me. This book was the worst one I've read. The author seemed to leave the story half finished, as if it was something she had written in a journal. It was terribly short and told mostly of her last stay in a mental institution, not of her general struggle with mental illness. There was so much I wanted to know more about that she barely even touched on. Also, the tone of the book is narcissistic and uppity. Wasn't a big fan, obviously.
October 31, 2018
Bio polar
I liked how the author was mad honest about bipolar disorder 1. In some way or another I would find similarities.
I liked how the author was mad honest about bipolar disorder 1. In some way or another I would find similarities.
November 25, 2012
This was a free Kindle download. The author tells about her life being bipolar. But she tells the story in such a matter-of-fact manner that there is no emotional connection. There is a chapter written by her son about the night his mother attempts to take her life. He relates the emotion missing from the rest of the book. The author tells about getting electroshock treatments as if they are a flu shot, no big deal. A lot is missing from this memoir.
October 26, 2023
I have to admit I've been reading a lot of memoirs about mental illness lately. This one stood out in a few ways. First of all, it doesn't attempt to be funny. She tells her story as she remembers it and as honestly as she can without making the strange seem bigger than it really was or without emphasizing the humorous bits. Also, she's the first person I've read write memoirs of going through ECT. Because of the ECT she doesn't remember large bits of the 18 months of her life she's going through it, but she talks about the up and down sides honestly and while there are a lot of downsides she says in the end it was worth it. Third, she includes two chapters written by her son about her suicide attempt and her recovery, making it clear that she understands she didn't only affect herself, but her middle school son and husband as well. Getting the 3rd person perspective was actually one of the better parts of this book, but really it was very well done and I'm glad I read it.
September 1, 2017
The author of this book really opened up and said a lot of personal things about her illness. You have to admire that kind of courage. She gives a very accurate depiction of what it's like to be in a short-term crisis psychiatric facility. She does not hold back. It's interesting that she has quite a lot of delusions and psychosis with her bipolar. I thought maybe she was misdiagnosed and is really schizo–affective. I also wondered if she had an abortion – she talked about a fetus that regularly visits her and asks her to remember his name. I wonder if that was guilt stemming from an abortion. Although the woman was very open, she did not speculate on why she had that recurring hallucination. The book gives one a strong idea what it's like to have a serious illness. The author seems like a really good person
February 25, 2018
Yes you are a strong lady.
Yes I know how to feel crazy. Myself have BIPOLAR 2. And I have very bad days. Not too many good days. With this I miss a lot day. I been on and off meds. Done drugs to be different mood. I'm just stuck. But you did it. I will I can.
Yes I know how to feel crazy. Myself have BIPOLAR 2. And I have very bad days. Not too many good days. With this I miss a lot day. I been on and off meds. Done drugs to be different mood. I'm just stuck. But you did it. I will I can.
December 17, 2018
Lyrical and hopeful
A very well-written, lyrical and hopeful memoir about living with bipolar disorder. This book moved me, and gave me courage and faith to move forward with my own illness.
A very well-written, lyrical and hopeful memoir about living with bipolar disorder. This book moved me, and gave me courage and faith to move forward with my own illness.
February 9, 2018
Enlightening
Great read. Helped reading another person point of view who is also bipolar. She made me feel less ashamed of my struggle with mental illness.
Great read. Helped reading another person point of view who is also bipolar. She made me feel less ashamed of my struggle with mental illness.
August 26, 2018
Thank you Janine for a peak into the life of someone living with bipolar. It is not easy to live with and there will be good days and bad days but having hope makes everyday a little better.
June 16, 2023
My Kind of Crazy Living in a Bipolar World by Janine Crowley Haynes is suggested as a vital resource for individuals with lived experience of Bipolar symptomatology and Psychology student’s expanding bookshelves. The author bestows rare insights from her own feminine lived experience of Bipolar and Psychosis with a dash of playfulness to lighten the tone through captivating her audience alongside a certain charm confronting stigma and systemic biases in America. This book focuses purely from the non-clinical perspective using moving personal and family accounts showing the circumstances that continue to drive stereotypes when accessing services in hospital settings, for instance the history of Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) as an intervention. Janine describes the years of ECT ‘has eliminated a high percentage of her short and long-term memory and obliterating her sense of direction.’ In some instances of administering ECT this was conducted without Anaesthesia. Suggesting that ECT therapy was exclusively focused on female bipolar and elderly female schizophrenic patients, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f.... Janine sheds light on the hidden intertwining stories with in-patients during long ward stay’s highlighting the often-stark reality for some individuals living with Mental Health that also shines a ray of hope that can be a lifeline during these times for individuals on the road to recovery. https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
May 22, 2015
First Person Experience
This is a memoir written by the author based on her experience of being treated for bipolar illness after a suicide attempt. It was interesting to read her description of Electric Shock Therapy and the pros and cons that came with it. I felt anguished for the author as she had to tear down her memories and realize which were real and which were actually symptoms of her psychosis. This is an excellent novel for anyone interested in the files of psychology and counseling.
This is a memoir written by the author based on her experience of being treated for bipolar illness after a suicide attempt. It was interesting to read her description of Electric Shock Therapy and the pros and cons that came with it. I felt anguished for the author as she had to tear down her memories and realize which were real and which were actually symptoms of her psychosis. This is an excellent novel for anyone interested in the files of psychology and counseling.
February 26, 2012
Janine Crowley Hayes takes you through her bipolar life from childhood to adult and back again. She has indured many struggles with trying to cope with her illness. Vivid hallucinations cause her to doubt reality and she undergoes many hospitalizations and treatments, including shock therapy. This story uplifted me in knowing she had unconditinoal support from her husband and son.
March 30, 2013
not well written, but she had a story to tell and I think she got her point across. I was able to stay connected to it even though chapters were so jumbled. picked this book up at random and as I read I couldn't believe it was about the hospital where I stayed once as well as the doc I had (who I despised but the author loved). holy crap coincidences!
June 3, 2013
I was actually a little nervous to read this book...bipolar disorder runs in my family but noone ever wants to talk about it so I decided to read this book to help me try to understand what some of my relatives have gone through. It's a great introduction to looking at how this disease affects a person. Short, fast read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
June 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I have been living with my diagnosis for years, so I found it interesting to see bipolar disorder from someone else's eyes. I give her props for being brave enough to write her story for the world to read. Just like her, I'm blessed with a husband & family that completely accept and support my difficulties. Truly a great read!
December 16, 2011
some of this book is accurate. however there is a lot missing that I deem important. difficult read because author went back and forth which I suppose could be the way her mind works. we need book that is more about what bipolar is
June 25, 2012
Some parts were unbelievable, and I highly doubted the truth of them. Like many other reviewers, I didn't feel like this was honest enough for the reality of living with bipolar depression. It was a quick read, though.
May 30, 2013
For some reason , in my life I have met and known quite a few mentally ill people. In my quest to understand their suffering, this is one of the books I chose to read. It is a first person true account of a woman's life suffering through her mental trials . I suggest this as one of the books
February 14, 2015
Not what the title leads you to believe the book is about
This is basically just a book on what it's like to be hospitalized. It doesn't really touch on the illness or even explain to the reader what living with bipolar is really like. Not very impressed.
This is basically just a book on what it's like to be hospitalized. It doesn't really touch on the illness or even explain to the reader what living with bipolar is really like. Not very impressed.
August 15, 2011
I found this book honest, but not quite honest enough. Haynes barely scratched the surface of her experience, and for that, this book is lacking that something that would have made it great.
January 12, 2012
Quick read. One Greg came across while playing on the Kindle. I'm glad I'm of a sound mind. (Unless any of you out there disagree.)
May 4, 2012
This was just an okay read,I kept waiting for her to really open up and bleed out onto the page.She withheld the raw emotion that would have made a lasting impact.
November 14, 2012
I thought it was a good story about a woman and her strugle with bipolar disorder. I wish the book had been longer and had more examples of things she experienced
December 8, 2014
was helpful to me since i have bipolar too. hope it helps other too.
May 5, 2013
Good book but rather short and disjointed--much like my bipolar mind. Interesting to see the point of views from her husband and son. Very interesting and they add color to the story.
May 13, 2013
Not a bad book, just not a very good one. Needed more REAL.
July 17, 2015
I wanted to know more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews