There's A Book...

...called Chocolate Pudding in Heaven by Maggie Newcomb. In October, the author is giving a virtual talk to my local NAMI chapter, which is how I found out about the book. Her story is about being diagnosed with and living with bipolar disorder 1. It has excellent reviews, so I went ahead and ordered it. I want to pass the title along to anyone who might be interested.

Rivals Seuss for Best Book Title ever.

Cheers, Beth. I'm going to look it up right now.

Just purchased. The MA NAMI group near me caters to the the families of the mentally ill. I went to one of their sessions once, and it focused on praying for the mentally ill. They told me that I'd get over my substance abuse problems (which I don't have) would be 'prayed away," and that one day I too could hold regular work. I told them my salary and that they were presumptuous. I am telling you this only because I'm jealous of your group, Beth! Very jealous. It sounds like a kind group. I wish I had one like that.

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Originally Posted by swimmingly Just purchased. The MA NAMI group near me caters to the the families of the mentally ill. I went to one of their sessions once, and it focused on praying for the mentally ill. They told me that I'd get over my substance abuse problems (which I don't have) would be 'prayed away," and that one day I too could hold regular work. I told them my salary and that they were presumptuous. I am telling you this only because I'm jealous of your group, Beth! Very jealous. It sounds like a kind group. I wish I had one like that.

ACK!

I have been a NAMI Connection group facilitator for some years, and a NAMI member for more years than I can count. NAMI is never supposed to bring any type of religious dogma into a group for any reason. Never.

Some years ago I was in a Connection group - different chapter than mine - and the facilitator read some kind of religious tract at the close of the meeting. Well, somebody got wind of it and she was dismissed as a facilitator, no questions asked.

Please strongly consider informing your local chapter of the problems you had with the group. NAMI is definitely not in any way connected to any religious anything! That chapter would lose funding if the facilitators insist on pulling that shite. Sorry to get on a soapbox, but I strongly believe that NAMI must be made available to everyone without any strings attached.

As for the book, I'm hopeful! It looks like a worthy read.

I also recoiled in horror reading what they told you, swimmingly (I don’t have bipolar, btw, I was just lured in by the awesome title!)
Prayers may offer some people comfort, I’m not religious but I still appreciate in a way if someone tells me I’m in their prayers because it’s basically another way of saying I’m in their thoughts. But that’s all they do - they don’t have any real world effect beyond letting someone know you’re thinking of them (positive or negative).
So, as BethRags intimated, it’s really inappropriate to offer prayers as a solution for curing mental illness (or anything else). It can and has cost lives.
I hope if you report them that the group you went to improves and gets more supportive.

I hope you like the book if you read it.

I may do as well, at some point- though I admit it's been a good while since I've read anything cover to cover!

Great book title! I'll look it up!

I agree. I also think its very inappropriate to offer someone with mental illness the ''advice'' of 'others have it worse'' especially if they find it hard to open up. (and have severe anxiety) And have been harmed by professionals. But yes both can cost lives. (I don't have bipolar 1 but was attracted by the great title)

Presumptious and clueless people grrr. (sorry about my grr posts in this thread)

I wish I had a kind group like yours Beth (irl) (I've been in some very crap irl groups)

Hey, Beth--would NAMI have grps here do you think? Sure could use one.

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Originally Posted by bpcyclist Hey, Beth--would NAMI have grps here do you think? Sure could use one.

Definitely! And being that it's POrtland the NAMI Connection groups are probably good ones.
Find Your Local NAMI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

I received the book today and will try to start reading it tonight. We shall see....

I went to the Washington County one back when I lived closer to it and can tell you they have a really sweet setup, with an owned building, gardens, kitchen, library. I've never been to another one locally, so can't comment on any others, but if that one is convenient to you, I would recommend it. (Only one real issue once -- someone hijacking the group about an unrelated personal situation -- but that was put to a stop. Stuff is bound to happen from time to time.)

I'm half way through Chocolate Pudding in Heaven. Basically, it the author's account of her manic episodes (she's dx'ed with BD 1). She kind of repeats the same experiences of her psychotic manias.

So while the book is not amazingly well written it's an easy read that gives some real life insight into BD.

So Chocolate Pudding in Heaven...the author, Maggie Newcomb, had her first severe manic episode when she was sixteen. She was hospitalized at that time. Her family has remained supportive throughout her illness.

She gives worthwhile insight into mania, especially with struggling with what is "real" spirituality and what is manic-induced spirituality.

That said, the book seems to be written by someone whose personality seems to have remained rather stuck at the age of a later teen/young adult.

All in all, even though it certainly wasn't the best book I've read, the author does give a good look into what her manic episodes were like. She also provides a realistic view of her IP experiences.

If anyone wants this book, I'll send it to you free. Just PM me your address (totally confidential) and I'll send it out.