Former 2009 Nationally Awarded Coordinator of the Year of NAMI NH’s ~ National Alliance on Mental Illness ~ “In Our Own Voice” Speakers Bureau, Deborah (Deb) Francis’ tenured position also included State Trainer and Presenter. NAMI NH provided her the place, platform, and experience to share her life journey of recovery from living with Manic Depression, now recognized as bipolar disorder.

Her insights inspired many to engage in public speaking, greatly empowering their recovery journeys. She witnessed the depth of her own self-development and the realization of her recovery through this process. All of this has culminated in her newly written memoir, “Discomfort in The Manic Mind.” In this work, she poetically invites readers to experience the journey of her life within the confines of a manic depression diagnosis.

She shares her story of her family’s genetic predisposition to mental illness and how her experience of sexual abuse trauma exacerbated her propensity for living with the diagnosis that she grew to embrace courageously. This journey includes the deep trauma that stems from this cyclical illness, which encompasses both the psychosis triggered by mania and the resulting depressive episodes, all of which led to numerous hospitalizations over a 40-year period.

Reading through her life experiences, one can sense the depth of her struggles. She describes the challenges of living with mental illness and its impact on those around her, how family dynamics can contribute to the difficulties, and even the stigma that can arise from those closest to her.

The course of her career is fiercely tenacious, embodying hope and resilience. It’s a compelling story of perseverance and overcoming insurmountable odds that will inspire and draw you into the depths of that hope.