To Fly Again

A story not easily forgotten, author Rachelle Hasnas, LCSW, has written a stirring memoir recounting the tragic life and subsequent death of her son Joshua precipitated by his mental illness. To Fly Again- Portrait of a BIPOLAR Life is a gripping narrative that courageously dives into the abyss of bipolar disorder. The inclusion of Joshua's poetry provides deeper insight for the reader into the profound anguish he experienced with this oftentimes crippling disease. This book shares the author's tumultuous journey with her son through many years of pain and struggle for both, and finally, her process of dealing with his death. Both her voice of a mother and her voice of a therapist are interwoven in the telling of her son's story. Moreover, To Fly Again goes beyond the Life story of Joshua to provide educational material on bipolar disorder by featuring the addition of a final section presenting vital information on this mental illness-to offer hope, help, and healing for others diagnosed with bipolar disorder. An invaluable resource for understanding bipolar disorder for patients and their loved ones, for therapists, and for persons coping with grief and loss.

Rachelle Hasnas graduated with a Bachelor s Degree in Psychology the year prior to her marriage. She worked for several years before starting a family, giving birth to Joshua and twenty- three months later, Daniel. Devotion to her family took precedence over working outside the home once her sons were born. During those many years Rachelle was also graced with the opportunity to immerse herself in nontraditional spiritual studies, which became an integral part of her life. She gives credit to her spiritual path for keeping her intact through several challenging and life-altering experiences. After her marriage of twenty-seven years ended, Rachelle moved from Long Island, New York to Virginia Beach, Virginia and returned to school for her Master s Degree in Social Work. She went on to acquire her license in clinical social work and was hired as a clinical counselor at Oceana Naval Air Station. After more than ten years of clinical practice at NAS Oceana, Rachelle chose to retire to help with the care of her toddler granddaughter, Sophie Jewel. This has been a healing experience, easing some of her grief since losing Joshua. Rachelle also authored the Pocket Guide to Bach Flower Essences (1997) and The Essence of Bach Flowers Traditional and Transpersonal Use and Practice (1999). These books were inspired by her past training and experience as a seminar presenter and practitioner for Bach Flower Essences, along with her respect and admiration for this Holistic Health System and for Dr. Bach. Soon after publishing Joshua s memoir to increase public awareness about mental illness, Rachelle joined Twitter to advocate for and support bipolar disorder in her son s name. Please send her a tweet @joshuaseagull. She would love to hear from you!