Mental Health Meltdown Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental IIlnesses

Are mental health struggles hovering like a dark cloud over you, your family, or friends? Paul and Arlene Samuels co-authored their book to help you hold on to hope amid their dark clouds and blue skies with Paul having bipolar. Married for almost five decades, together they illuminate the voices of bipolar and other mental illnesses featuring brave storytellers who share their sorrows and successes with depression, bipolar, PTSD, and other mental health issues. Famous Dutch Author Corrie ten Boom, once wisely observed, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the Engineer.” Mental Health Meltdown is a reader-friendly book, a traveling companion which pierces the darkness with light through first-person stories and resources. Recognizing that no one chooses a mental illness-or a physical disability-the stories educate others to help erase cultural stigmas. With mutual determination, Arlene and Paul boost conversations with thoughtful authenticity. They are hopeful that Mental Health Meltdown will help the public view mental illnesses with the same kindnesses offered to those with physical illnesses. One mental illness story sadly reveals that “no one takes my status seriously because no one can see the disability.” Samples of story titles are intriguing: “Bipolar Is A ‘No Casserole’ Illness.” “We Are All Around You.” “I Am Gen Z, It All Started When I was a Child.” “Celebrities with Mental Illness Then and Now.” “God is my Rock Even Through Suicidal Times.” “A Church Takes The Lead.” “Injured In The Army, I have PTSD.” The Samuels invite you to ride the hope train through your tunnels. Sit with them and their storytellers to gather practical tools while looking ahead for the light. Voicing their wide-ranging life experiences with mental health challenges will help you grasp insights about differently wired brains from a variety of people. A heartfelt comment from someone with bipolar affirms, “After reading Mental Health Meltdown I no longer feel alone.” The founder of the White Flag App discloses, “Am I still beset with my PTSD, anxiety, and my other mental health issues? Yes, but managing any mental illness by connecting with others is my act of hope! “ Traveling through Mental Health Meltdown is a helpful reminder. “The beauty of life is that every day we have another chance.“ Reading Mental Health Meltdown offers readers those chances.

Paul Leon Samuels is the son of Jewish refugees from the Russian pogroms under the Czar. Born in South Bronx, he is a proud first-generation American. The pain and challenges of his early life have given birth to his creative writing through poetry and books, as well as public speaking. He has traveled the world with World Vision, Mercy Ships, Messianic Jewish Alliance, and Youth With A Mission. Paul is a co-facilitator for peer-to-peer support groups, affiliated with the national Depression Bipolar Support Alliance. Arlene Bridges Samuels pioneered Christian outreach for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). After nine years she retired and later worked part-time with International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA. Arlene is now an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel and writes a weekly column at CBN ISRAEL. She has often traveled to Israel, including being invited three times by Israel’ s Government Press Office to their annual Christian Media Summit. Read more of her articles on her CBN Israel blog.

Chapter 1 Helping Others Hold on to Hope ........................... 1 Chapter 2 Three Detailed Case Histories .............................. 47 Chapter 3 Celebrities with Mental Illnesses Then and Now ... 55 Chapter 4 A Church Takes the Lead ...................................... 59 Chapter 5 My Life With Paul.................................................. 69 Chapter 6 Questions We Ask Each Other .............................. 81 Chapter 7 A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way ............. 93 Educational Resources to Explore ......................................... 101