Charita Cole Brown was diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder during her final semester as an English major at Wesleyan University. Doctors predicted she would never lead a “normal” life. Despite that prognosis she sought treatment and went on to marry, raise a family, earn a master’s degree in teaching and enjoy a fulfilling career in education.
Her powerful story is chronicled in her debut book, “Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life” (Curbside Splendor Publishing, June 2018). Brown will be in conversation with Dr. Karen Swartz (of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center) at Barnes and Noble, 3330 St Paul Streeet, Baltimore on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as manic depression) is highly treatable. However of the estimated 5.7 million Americans living with the disorder over 50 percent refuse to seek treatment. The fact that the suicide rate for people who have bipolar disorder in the United States is 20 times higher than that of the general population is even more sobering.
“I felt compelled to write this book to help reduce the stigma for people living with bipolar disorder and to encourage people living with the disorder to seek treatment,” Brown said.
To learn more about Charita Cole Brown and her memoir “Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life,” visit: www.charitacolebrown.com.