About the Book
On July 24th, 2004, author Graeme Cowan took pen to paper and said goodbye to his family. "I just can't be a burden any longer," he wrote. After four failed suicide attempts, and a five-year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he had ever treated, Cowan set out on a difficult journey back from the brink. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping others struggling with depression and bipolar disorder--and that is how this book came to be.
If you have severe depression or bipolar disorder, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Featuring interviews with people from of all walks of life, Back from the Brink is filled with real stories of hope and healing, information about treatment options and medication, and tools for putting what you've learned into practice. If you are ready to put one foot in front of the other and finally set out on the path to recovery, the powerful stories in this book will inform and inspire you to make lasting change. If you have severe depression or bipolar disorder, you may find it difficult to take that first step toward recovery. You aren't alone. In our society, many people with depression or bipolar disorder do not seek therapy or medical treatment due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Even people in "progressive" communities may not want to admit that they are on antidepressants or mood-balancing medications. Isn't it time we changed the way we thought about these illnesses? The book includes a special foreword by actress Glenn Close, and features in-depth interviews with former US Representative Patrick Kennedy; television talk-show host Trisha Goddard; director of public policy at Google, Bob Boorstin; former chief advisor to Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell; former tennis pro, Cliff Richey; former professional football player, Greg Montgomery; and many more.
About the Author:
Graeme Cowan lived through a five-year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he had ever treated. This fueled his desire to prevent others from going through the same thing. Through this horrific experience, and his own extensive research, he has guided, taught, and inspired countless people through his books, keynote presentations, and media appearances.
Foreword writer
Glenn Close is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony Award-winning actress who made her feature film debut in
The World According to Garp. Her performance earned Close her first Academy Award nomination. She was subsequently Oscar-nominated for her performances in
The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and most recently,
Albert Nobbs, which she also cowrote and produced. Among her television credits is the highly-acclaimed TV legal drama,
Damages, for which she has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe as Best Actress.
In 2009, Close participated in the launch of Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit organization working to end the stigma, misunderstanding, and discrimination surrounding mental illness. The idea for this movement evolved out of her first-hand observation of battles with mental illness within her family. Her sister, Jessie, lives with bipolar disorder and Jessie's son, Calen, is living with schizoaffective disorder.
Afterword writer
Allen Doederlein is president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the nation's largest consumer-led mental health organization focusing on mood disorders, and a proud member of the advocacy committee of the International Society of Bipolar Disorders.
