Rock steady : brilliant advice from my bipolar life /

Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder shortly before her thirtieth birthday. She struggled to find effective coping methods and decided to use her talents as an illustrator to share her experience. Her first graphic novel, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo & Me (2012), let readers take a peek into her journey into treating and coming to terms with her diagnosis. Rock Steady goes a step beyond, giving readers a first-hand glance into various coping methods for the disorder. Where Marbles described Forney's specific journey, this is more of a broad self-help book with tips that could benefit anyone. Forney's inviting, black-and-white illustrations in a genial, cartoony style guide the reader through the importance of a regular sleeping schedule, maintaining exercise, and being open with those you love. This volume is truly a must-read for anyone who struggles with a mental disorder or someone who finds comfort in daily structure. Forney addresses readers with the tone of a caring friend, and her approach will likely make her fans eager for more grounding advice.--Fiona McMahon Copyright 2018 Booklist

Forney follows up her graphic memoir, Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me, with a practical guide to understanding, navigating, and managing bipolar disorder (and mood disorders in general). Forney, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the late '90s and documents the many years it took to find stability, sets forth her personal experiences, coping strategies, and extensive research on a variety of topics including therapy, medication management, coping tools, warning signs, and stigma. She stresses that mood disorders require regular self-assessment, care, support, and treatment maintenance, and her approach makes this task list feel less daunting. Forney effortlessly conveys her message in clear, succinct writing combined with energetic but simple visuals to illustrate difficult concepts. What results is a balanced, uncluttered resource, infused with empathy, humor, and encouragement. This guide is mental health literacy at its best, making it a must-read for those with mood disorders and their loved ones, health professionals, and anyone looking to gain a greater understanding of an often misunderstood but common condition. Agent: Holly Bemiss, Susan Rabiner Literary Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cartoonist Forney follows up her highly regarded Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me. She effectively weaves in personal experiences with research and accessible resources. The clear and often tongue-in-cheek black-and-white artwork notes exactly when an example is real and when it's made up for wit's sake. Forney addresses everything from handling the diagnosis to self-care tips and tricks to prescription regimes, and each chapter includes a page of smile-inducing "merit badges" readers can "earn" for learning to cope with, for instance, insomnia. The appended resources and the bibliography are useful and thorough but never overwhelming. A trusted source of peer support for others with bipolar disorder, Forney is a leader in self-education for those dealing with this condition, as well as their friends and family. VERDICT Readers interested in dependable information on bipolar disorder will appreciate this title. A possible option for book discussion groups.-Francisca Goldsmith, Library Ronin, Worcester, MA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.