Melody Moezzi - Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life

PRAISE FOR HALDOL AND HYACINTHS

An excellent read, no matter what your level of familiarity (or lack thereof) with mental illness.

Bitch

Infectious, freewheeling humor... fierce honesty and comic self-deprecation.

The Boston Globe

Bold and riveting.

Ms.

Defiantly frank.

Parade (named a Parade Pick)

Blistering, brash and irreverent.... For the many who struggle to make sense of and survive this misunderstood disorder, her battered, courageous postcard from the edge cant come too soon.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Compelling.

The Herald-Sun

Captivating.

Scientific American

Intelligent, accurate, entertaining, culturally relevant, and a little sassy....

New York Journal of Books

Affecting... [Moezzis] vivid descriptions of being pulled against her will in a swirl of impulsivity, hallucinations, and paranoia are riveting.... A poetic portrait of life on the lines of sanity and a mind on the edge of cultures.

Publishers Weekly

[Moezzis] candor about her experiences in and with the medical establishment is bracing.... A bold, courageous book by a woman who transforms mental illness into an occasion for activism.

Kirkus

[Moezzi] learned not just to survive but to thrive and has become a voice for both manic-depressives and Muslim Americans.

Library Journal

A dazzling flower with poisonous thorns, Melody Moezzis memoir describes formidable, twin conflicting identities. Bipolar, she wrestles frenzied, Hula-Hooping highs and psychotic, suicidal lows. Iranian-American, she finds Muslims scarce in the Bible Belt where she grew up, and learns that in Iran, there isnt even a word for bipolar. Her struggle to keep these forces in balance is an immense task, and she tells her story with confidence and a fabulously wry sense of humor.

Ellen Forney, author of Marbles

Haldol and Hyacinths is like the brawling, big-hearted, and hilarious little sister of Darkness Visible and The Noonday Demon. But Melody Moezzi is no imitator and she doesnt write in anyones shadow. She stands alone and speaks her brilliant, fierce, inimitable mind, and were better for it.

Josh Hanagarne, author of The Worlds Strongest Librarian

Melody Moezzi pulls no punches. A big brain and a big heart inform this courageous and often hilarious memoir which crosses cultures and breaks stigmasthere is, quite simply, nothing like it. Nothing as smart, nothing as frank, nothing as informative.

Lee Smith, author of The Last Girls

Haldol and Hyacinths is Melody Moezzis brilliant chronicle of her battle with bipolar disorder, which she was forced to keep a secret. Her memoir is a compulsively readable account of one womans descent into the hell of this insidious illness, and a courageous testament of her coping with this tragedy. Moezzi is the newest and perhaps the most important voice in this genre. Those suffering with mental illness (and their family members and friends) should read this book as soon as possible. Moezzis story will save lives.

Andy Behrman, author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania

With beautiful grace, sardonic humor and sharp intellect, Melody Moezzi casts a light where there is usually darkness. Haldol and Hyacinths may be a book about an American Muslim woman, but it speaks to the struggle of all people to find peace and calm in their lives and in their families. Melody is a modern-day Sylvia Plathwith a happier ending.

Asra Q. Nomani, author of Standing Alone: An American Womans Struggle for the Soul of Islam

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Copyright 2013 by Melody Moezzi

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Moezzi, Melody, date.

Haldol and hyacinths: a bipolar life/Melody Moezzi.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-101-59993-8

1. Manic-depressive illnessCross-cultural studies. 2. Manic-depressive personsFamily relationships. 3. Iranian AmericansPsychology. 4. Psychiatry, TransculturalCase studies. 5. Moezzi, MelodyMental health. I. Title.

RC516.M62 2013 2013008224

616.89'5dc23

Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Penguin is committed to publishing works of quality and integrity. In that spirit, we are proud to offer this book to our readers; however, the story, the experiences, and the words are the authors alone. Some names and identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Version_4

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

A LSO BY M ELODY M OEZZI

War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims

For Matthew

I N M EMORY OF

Mamaan Koochooloo

Mamaan Shekoo

Tom Lenard

Farid Jafarian