When I was 13 months old, I sat in the backseat of my parents’ Chevy Impala, on the way to my father’s first of many stays in a mental institution. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Bi-Polar I disorder, a severe mental illness that would shape our family’s life. His outbursts were unpredictable, confusing, and often violent. As difficult as that was, it was only the beginning of my story. As a teenager, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, a mental illness I had been quietly battling for years. This memoir tells the story of what it was like growing up in a family marked by mental illness and how, with the help of medical professionals, therapists, and spiritual teachers, I found my way to a life of healing, success, and contentment. It’s a journey of resilience, overcoming adversity, and discovering my own strength.