Thirty-two-year-old Rihanna Perry has the job, son, and husband of her dreams. But her world is torn apart when her husband leaves her for another woman. After the combination of the breakup and a major surgery, Rihanna’s mood changes from the way it used to be: she’s never been happier in her life. Soon she’s staying up all night, flirting with men and women (even at work), smoking weed, and starting writing projects she doesn’t finish. On top of everything else, Rihanna discovers that telepathy is real, and attempts to learn the skill of reading minds for the first time.<br><br>Rihanna won’t accept that her long ago diagnosis of bipolar disorder has come back to haunt her. After prompting by her best friend, Rihanna finally goes to the local mental hospital for help. She eventually accepts the fact that she’s been suffering from a manic episode. After being put on medication, she barely has a chance to recover from the mania when she’s thrown into the worst depression she’s ever experienced.<br><br>Medicine alone doesn’t help, so Rihanna must undergo electroconvulsive therapy and a six-month stay at the state mental hospital. Will she ever be stable again?

My Chemical Imbalance

Nia looked surprised to see me,but she didn’t say anything.


I hadn’t slept more than three hours in five days,had barely eaten,and now felt a giant ball of irritability welling up inside.I felt like all my nerves had moved to the outside of my skin.It was more intense than any body-buzz caused by any drug I had ever tried.Every sensation was a thousand times more powerful.The volume had been turned up on all my senses,almost painfully.


Nate walked up to me and raised his arms.I swooped him up,held him tight,and kissed him.He immediately struggled to get down.


“Momma,Rihanna molested me!”he either said or thought.I couldn’t tell the difference anymore.


My jaw dropped.I hadn’t done anything to him,but if he thought I had,that was just as traumatizing for him.I grabbed my keys and ran to the door.


Chapter 9