When I Was Lost: A Mother's Struggle with Bipolar Disorder

By Glenna Gill

Book Overview

At her lowest point, she was a mother without her children, a woman trapped in a relationship that was destroying her, and a person fighting a daily battle with bipolar disorder and addiction. When I Was Lost is the raw and intimate true story of how one woman fell further than she ever imagined and still found a way to stand back up.

After the end of her sixteen-year marriage, she tried to rebuild a life for herself and her two young boys. Instead, the pressure of parenting alone, her long struggle with bipolar disorder and a devastating new relationship pulled her into a spiral she could not escape. What began as hope and connection turned quickly into emotional and physical abuse. When drugs entered the picture, everything unravelled. She lost her home, her health, her sense of self and eventually made the heartbreaking decision to send her children to live with their father to keep them safe.

This memoir takes readers inside the reality of mental illness and addiction from the inside out. It shows how trauma bonds form, why they are so hard to break and how even the strongest love for your children can be overshadowed by the powerful pull of survival. It is an unflinching look at rock bottom, but it is also a story of courage, clarity and the slow rebuilding of a life that once felt beyond saving.

As she begins to confront the truth of her situation, she discovers what it means to reclaim her voice, her choices and her identity. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares how she fought to regain the trust of her children, rebuild her mental health and find moments of joy again after years of chaos and pain.

When I Was Lost is a memoir about bipolar disorder and addiction, and a testament to resilience. It highlights the fierce love of a mother for her children and the possibility of rebuilding everything that matters, even when you feel most broken.

Who this book is for
- Readers who gravitate toward honest and intimate memoirs
- Mothers who have struggled with mental illness, addiction or trauma
- Anyone who has felt trapped in an abusive or toxic relationship
- People seeking insight into bipolar disorder and its effect on family life
- Readers looking for stories of redemption, healing and rebuilding
- Supporters, therapists and advocates who want to better understand the lived experience of mental illness and substance abuse

Why this book is unique
- It's a candid inside view of bipolar disorder told with rare vulnerability
- The book layers exploration of motherhood, guilt, trauma and recovery
- It contains a powerful depiction of trauma bonding and why leaving abuse is complex
- It's a woman's memoir that shows both the breaking point and the rebuild
- The book tells a deeply human story, written to help others feel less alone
- It offers both emotional resonance and psychological insight

If you are looking for a memoir that tells the truth about mental illness, addiction, abuse and the long road back to yourself, this book will stay with you long after the final page. When I Was Lost offers comfort, understanding and the reminder that even in the darkest moments, hope can still take root. If you need a story that shows survival is possible, healing is real and it is never too late to reclaim your life, start reading When I Was Lost today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1080794182
• ISBN13: 9781080794188
• Release Date: August 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"