This is my journey of how I coped with major depression and stress while caring for my son battling schizophrenia and bipolar, and my daughter struggling with bipolar disorder. My story is one of strength and courage battling impossible odds to coping and overcoming major mental illnesses. Like any other illness, knowledge and early detection of mental illness is vitally important to prevent years of pain and hardships. Unfortunately, the symptoms during the early stages of mental illness are truly deceptive and confusing. They are unsuspecting and gradual, which makes it impossible to detect them as the beginning signs of mental illness. My experience shows the importance of learning and understanding early signs of mental illness. Many Americans recognize the illnesses only when these illnesses have slipped far from reality, such as having a horrible breakdown. This is a story for any family who confronts difficulties with mental illnesses or any American living with the economic realities of 21st Century America, which may cause mental breakdown. It is an inspirational book of faith and hope, and the bravery of not giving up or giving out. Stress and Depression details my coping while caring for my son and daughter struggling with mental illnesses. It is impossible to imagine a journey into a life with not just the struggles with paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders, but also struggling with stress and depression. It is a journey happening to someone else's family. It is a journey that is, at times, embarrassing to tell. It is a journey that is all too heart breaking. At times, I felt that death would have been more comforting than living with the struggles and heartbreaks of mental illnesses. Many have not directly encountered schizophrenia or bipolar but many have heard shocking reports on TV. Those reports sometimes cause fears of the illness and the ones who are suffering. What inspired me to share this story is the success I have had in overcoming the adversities that resulted from these illnesses. The passing years have brought me much knowledge, experience and wisdom. During the course of writing this book, I learned how much my son and daughter endured and the outstanding courage and strength they displayed in the face of their adversities. I then became aware of my courage and strength as I struggled with my own stresses and depression. My struggles did not change my character or the core decency of who I was. Rather, my struggles taught how to be hopeful. They made me into a more courageous woman and mother. They helped me develop excellent characters, and the caring person I am today. My courage, strength, determination and endurance also made a great impact in my son's and daughter's lives. This is a book of assuring hope, and never releasing that hope. I am writing this book to inspire others that in the face of profound challenges, there is hope for recovery.
About the Author: Ms. King's happiness about her ability to help her son and daughter has encouraged her to share the "recovery techniques" she used. She self-published seven books titled, "A Letter to Schizophrenia from a Mother," "Schizophrenia," "Bi-Polar," "Stress and Depression," "140 Ways Coping with Depression," "Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Stress and Stigmas," and "Finding Hope in a Hopeless World," Alyse King also self-published a series of four Workbooks titled, "Day After Day Coping with Mental Illness - Support for Individuals and Families," "Essential Skills for Self Improvement," "Job Preparation," and "How to Keep Your Job." The Workbooks provide continuing education and training for rebuilding lives, returning to employment or becoming financially independent. The Workbooks share the systematic techniques that Ms. King used in helping her children to develop personal skills and skills for hunting for a job, securing the job and holding the job. Alyse also self-published a Trainers' Guide. The Trainers' Manual provides guidance to all who wish to develop programs to help others to find work or achieve financial independence. Alyse also self-published four additional books, "Comfort and Hope - Death- Reflections from Scriptures," "A 30-Day Online Romance, Based on a True Story - Part 1," "Confessions from A 30-Day Online Romance, Based on a True Story - Part 2, and "A Follow-Up of Confessions from A 30-Day Online Romance, Based on a True Story - Part 3." Ms. King grew up and was educated on a beautiful Caribbean Island; married in her 20's and has been a homemaker, mother and sole provider for her family. Later, divorced, she relocated to Southern California with her four children. The author currently resides in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. Her daughter and youngest daughter also live in North Carolina. Her other two eldest daughters and all five grandchildren remain in Southern California. She frequently travels to California to visit her family and friends. Ms. King's goal is to utilize her expertise in both the health and educational sectors. For the past several years, she has been working towards that goal by volunteering her time to help friends who are struggling to cope with mental illness.