Central Florida Author Publishes Inspirational Book for People with Mental Illnesses

LAKELAND, Fla. - Dec. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- In mid-2009, a traumatic event led to Lakeland, Florida, resident Daphne Tarango’s official diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a brain disorder that causes extreme “shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks” (National Institute of Mental Health - NIMH). People with bipolar disorder unexpectedly shift from depression to manic highs that can result in “damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide” (NIMH). Prior to 2009, Daphne unknowingly exhibited many of the symptoms of mental illness. After being diagnosed, Daphne had a name for her condition. She also acquired the shame and stigma associated with mental illness.

Five years since her diagnosis, Daphne has opened up about her struggles and become a mental health advocate. She speaks at recovery groups, and in 2013, Daphne’s story was included in the Voices for Recovery toolkit of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This year, in light of her own struggles, those of friends and family with mental illnesses, increasing news of celebrities with mental illnesses, and related tragedies in the media, Daphne decided to write a 52-week inspirational book that inspires readers and challenges their false beliefs associated with mental illness. She recruited nine other writers who struggle with mental illness from across the United States and Canada to join her in this project.

“The name Groove?” Daphne replied. “Groove refers to the pathways in the brain. If we repeatedly envision ourselves with guilt, shame, and low self-worth, those grooves become entrenched in our mind and heart. In agriculture, you get rid of old grooves of sun-hardened soil by loosening, tilling, and ploughing them and creating new, fresh grooves. All writers in my book are replacing their old grooves and false beliefs about their mental illnesses with new grooves using God’s Truth, the Bible,” Daphne said.

Groove is a great resource for young and old, men and women. It’s for people who struggle with any type of mental illness, whether they’re recently diagnosed or have struggled with mental illness for years. Groove can even be used with a group. Readers can read the weekly stories, work through the reflection questions for that week, and discuss with group members. Groove also makes a great gift.

“We want the millions of people who struggle with mental illnesses to understand their value and worth as God’s masterpieces,” Daphne said.

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Cindy Hastert of Kansas—and an advance reviewer of the book—says Groove is a “lovely book of comfort and encouragement from those who personally live with mental struggles. A reminder that you are more than your diagnosis and even in your darkest hour, you can be a light for others on their own journeys.”

Groove is available on Daphne’s Web site: http://DaphneWrites.com. It is also available as paperback on CreateSpace, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online book retailers (ISBN-13: 978-1503395862).