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

“Shit.I could have made it,”I thought.


That train had been meant for me,and I hadn’t taken my chance.I was supposed to die while I still had my dignity.I’d lost my book deal,but I still had my job,van,son,and Jeff.I knew that as more time passed I would lose everything.


I picked up Jeremiah and went home,slightly cheered by my little boy.I would never do anything to hurt him,or hurt myself in front of him.


The next morning I went to Outpatient Therapy.In the psychotherapy session,where we sat in a circle and talked about our problems,I waxed poetic about the train,spoke of it lovingly,and how it was meant for me but I hadn’t taken the opportunity.


After I finished,Caroline said,“After group,wait in the lobby so I can talk to your doctor.”


I waited for what seemed an interminable length of time—five minutes—and decided to go home.As I sat on the back step,smoking,someone called me.


“Where did you go?”It was Caroline,speaking sternly.


Chapter 14