Mom Mania and Me: Surviving and Changing a Volatile Relationship

MOM MANIA and Me Surviving and Changing a Volatile Relationship by Diane Dweller Finalist: Tucson Festival of Books Competition Trophy Award Australian NNAAMI Life with Diane Dweller’s mother Dixie is never dull especially during the jubilant part of her periodic spells. Dixie hosts large parties impulsively buys cars and houses and speeds everywhere. Fun chaos and heartbreak describe Diane’s lifetime struggle to cope with her mother during her manic spells. As a child Diane yearns to feel loved but Scary Mom’s angry outbursts send her into hiding. She desperately wants to run-away to escape. As a teen Diane is determined to stand up to her highly critical mom–until she tries to. She finally escapes at seventeen–into the arms of a controlling husband. Attending college after her divorce single mom Diane age 23 instigates a unique way to rid herself of the negative memories of both her mother and ex-husband. A series of ten seismic events change both Diane Dixie and their dysfunctional relationship. These life-changing events include a shocking childhood list a movie a medication reaction surgeries confrontations a coma and learning to show love in a different way. An unexpected appointment with a “cute little psychiatrist” Dixie met at a party results in a major turning point for Dixie Diane and her sister Gracie. At age 66 Dixie’s vivacious and devastating spells are diagnosed as bipolar disorder mania a mental illness due to a chemical imbalance in her brain. She is prescribed lithium a mood stabilizer. Diane and Gracie are ecstatic. It works until Dixie missing her manic highs stops taking her pills time and again triggering more absurd activities. Thus starts the sisters’ quest to figure out how to keep their mom on her medication. One attempt after another fails until Diane tries a different approach. The survival behaviors Diane develops over the years take her from her frightened childhood hiding under her bed to her appearances on national television as a successful author. The scared child frustrated teen and insecure young adult reveals how she develops self-esteem learns how to stand up to difficult people and gets Dixie to accept what she cannot change. The vivid description of the impact of a mental illness on a family in Mom Mania and Me is an inspiring story of survival. The lessons Diane shares provide ways others may improve their own volatile relationships. Dweller’s story fills a void in the books about mental illness: it is told from the perspective of a child of a bipolar parent and focuses on bipolar mania not depression. The Appendix includes Facts and Data about Bipolar Disorder plus international Resources that provide help for families with a mentally ill member.# # # For more information visit Diane’s website: DianeDweller.com