BrainStorm

From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum

By: Sara Schley

Narrated by: Sara Schley

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Sara Schley is the founder of a consulting business, and she has worked with hundreds of renowned companies worldwide. She's a proud mother, grandmother, community leader, and has been married for 26 years.

She also has a bipolar II brain. Fearing the stigma, she kept this secret for decades. Until now.

In her acclaimed memoir BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum, Sara tells her life-changing story to help end the bipolar stigma, optimize brain health, and save lives.

At 21, as a senior in college, Sara was a scholar-athlete who seemed to have it all. Then, like the flip of a switch, she had her first brain breakdown: A tailspin into a living hell. It was terrifying.

It took her 25 years and five psychiatrists to get the diagnosis that saved her life: Sara is on the bipolar spectrum with a bipolar II brain. If you've never heard of the bipolar spectrum, you're not alone: Most health-care professionals still don't know it exists. Misdiagnosis results and the wrong medications make broken brains worse. However, bipolar exists on a broad spectrum. Understanding this changes everything: With the correct diagnosis, medication, support, and self-care, people who have experienced severe, persistent depression - which is actually a form of bipolar - can live rich, full lives.

Sara's life is proof.

The self-care disciplines Sara has honed over 40 years of living with her bipolar II brain can help anyone who experiences anxiety, stress, or depression heal. Listen to this book to transform your life or that of someone you love.

©2022 Sara Schley (P)2022 Sara Schley

Engaging but made me lonely

Sara’s wit and insightful commentary are a welcome reprieve from the rather dry and austere medical books about bipolar 2. At first, I was excited about the book, feeling that I would be able to relate to the author’s experience. However, by the middle of the book, I realized that the realistic opportunity to have dozens of friends and family at the ready to take care of basic needs during a brainstorm is very unlikely. It’s not my experience at all. And such, it made me feel more frustrated and alone in my own disease. I hope that many people have the same experience as Sara, but I fear most in this country do not.

Makes sense- at last!

I am so happy that Sara’s friend encouraged her to write this book. I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 three years ago and have been fighting the diagnosis. I have been fighting the treatments and I’ve been mad at the world. Although I have been very, very grateful when the depression has been in remission. But it always seems to come back, and then I’m even more pissed than before. But listening to this book created a sense of calm and understanding, and an amazing sense of not being alone in this journey. And this is the first time that I’ve actually been able to say, without feeling totally pathetic, that I have bipolar two. Up until now I just told people I had recurrent major depression because the sound of bipolar two was just too crazy to say. But after listening to Sara‘s book, it makes sense. So thank you thank you thank you Sara and I hope everybody who has suffered and is suffering from this horrendous illness will find this book and the help they need. 🥰

A balanced and engaging story of a bipolar II journey

While the story was engaging and enjoyable to follow, this book quickly captured experiences I couldn’t previously articulate. I have been through nearly a dozen medications seeking the secret sauce for my personal brand of bipolar II. We each have a unique experience with this brain disease and it helps tremendously to hear about other peoples journeys.

Excellent memoir. Highly recomend.

Sara's memoir is outstanding in her story, descriptions and relatability. This can help both those with bipolarity and their supporting people. Her aim is to remove stigma, shame and to "bring bipolar out of the closet". In chapter XV, Sara is spot on regarding the prejudice of the various systems against mental health. Highly, highly recommended listen or read. (Sara's narration is engaging.)

Helpful and Encouraging

So grateful the author shared her experience. It has helped me help my daughter.

To many personal stories

Too many personal stories and not enough about Bipolar Disorder. Her life is interesting to her but not to the reader. The book is about Bipolar not about how wonderful her life is. She has an outstanding life and should be proud of it. Good for her in working so hard to achieve a splendid life and dealing with her Bipolar II disorder.