S2.E9. Bipolar Disorder, Defying The Verdict w/ Charita Cole Brown

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Against doctors’ predictions, Charita Cole Brown has been living in bipolar I recovery for more than twenty-five years. The Amerikan Therapy team has a virtual sit down with Charita to understand how she defied the verdict given to her by doctors over 30 years ago regarding her Bipolar I diagnosis. Her life story and memoir represent an inspirational story of how tribe and self-acceptance have allowed Charita to live a full and impactful life while managing life with a serious mental disorder.

Charita Cole Brown was diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder while finishing her final semester as an English major at Wesleyan University . Doctors predicted she would never lead a “normal” life. Despite that pessimistic prognosis and because she sought treatment, Charita 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 award-winning debut book, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life (Curbside Splendor Publishing, 2018).

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) is highly treatable. However, of the estimated 5.7 million Americans living with the disorder, over 50% won't seek treatment. The fact that the US suicide rate for people who have bipolar disorder is 12 times higher than that of the general population is even more sobering.

Charita Cole Brown earned a BA in English from Wesleyan University and an MAT in Early Childhood Education from Towson University in Maryland. A retired educator, she is now a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland Board of Directors and is also active in the local affiliate, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore.

Brown’s mission is to help cure mental healthcare stigma by sharing her story. She has given keynote presentations for the Morgan State University Psychology Department and the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society.

Besides her active involvement in mental health education, she currently manages assisted living style care for her elderly parents and serves on the Baltimore City Women's Commission.

To learn more about Charita Cole Brown and Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life, visit www.charitacolebrown.com