Her journey of recovery from bipolar disorder and her insights are described in this book, an autobiography of Carol Noyes. When Carol went through mid-life crisis in the spring of 2006 her world was turned upside-down.

Carol was able to wean herself off drugs, after over four years on psychiatric medications. She found natural alternatives that effectively helped her to recover and to lead a productive life. Carol believes that the current medical paradigm is inadequate and often unable to help individuals to heal and to bounce back.

Carol nearly died from a combination of the swine flu and lithium poisoning. Her descent to the bottom of the metaphorical well provided the impetus for her to research non-drug therapies. These therapies, along with faith, hope, and courage, brought Carol back to a peaceful life.

Carol recounts her life and investigates the factors that precipitated imbalance. She writes about her extraordinary experiences during expanded states of consciousness. She also delves into the world of symbols and mythologies, describing how they became poignant for her. Carol calls her experience a time of spiritual awakening; a time of developing self-esteem, learning to love herself, and finding her true purpose. She hopes that her insights will help others going through spiritual crisis. Those interested in humanistic psychology, personal growth, and spirituality may find this book fascinating.

Find the Author on Facebook
For more information, check out the author’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/CarolLNoyes

Quotes About the Book, Abridged Contents, and Excerpt

Paula Kaiman, Montpelier, VT

Carol has taken a subject shaded with shame and infused it with prismatic light.

Jane-Ann Bilon of Medford, MA

Carol Noyes’ book is a useful guide that teaches the reader life lessons for which most people have to learn the hard way. Her wisdom of life, portrayed in her book, could transform a fifth grader into a ninth grader after reading the book. Adults can also gain much wisdom from this valuable book.

Cynthia of San Francisco, CA

In bravely sharing her extraordinary journey, she inherently cheers others on in their quest for self-actualization and tikkun olam. What would our world be like if the majority of us followed Robert Adams’ advice, ‘The secret to peace of mind is not to identify with anything other than your true self.’ Reading her story has inspired me to look at my own martyrdom, to have the courage to feel my feelings, to awaken and to follow my dreams.
May we all realize our true selves, find balance and embrace the interconnectedness of all living things.

Mary Grillo-Servetnick, Meriden, CT

I think it is wonderful that Carol has put it all into writing and has shared her personal story and journey to peace with others. Therapeutic for her, while offering insight to others searching for their authenticity as well. Carol has had some amazing experiences, good and bad, and has gained much insight from them.

Abridged Contents

Part I The Chronological Order of My Life
• Birth
• The Search for Treasure
• Loss of Innocence
• Becoming a Gardener
• Finding My Tribe
• Learning About Different Spiritual Teachings and Other Cultures
• Creating a Home and Getting Married
• Death, Loss, and Birth in My Family
• First Episode: Trying to Break Through the Mess
• Second Episode
• Near Life Experience
• Pilgrimage
• Third Episode

Part II The Scale/Equality/Balance
• Balance Distribution of Wealth
• Balance Body Chemistry
• Balance Birth and Death
• Balance Male and Female
• Balance Rational and Irrational
• Balance Negative and Positive, Right and Left
• Balance Giving and Receiving
• Balance Unity and Individuality
• Balance Freedom and Limits
• Balance Right and Left Brain
• Balance Materialism and Spirituality/Body and Soul
• Balance Clean and Dirty

Part III Symbols, Signs, and Stories
• Mythology, Fairy Tales, and Stories
• The Doorway and the Key
• Home
• The Box
• The Mosaic Plate/ The Puzzle
• The Trinity
• The Rock/The Foundation
• The Medicine Wheel/The Cross
• The Corridor/ The Way
• Alignment and Synchronicity
• Adam and Eve and the Garden
• Baptism
• The Wasteland
• Identity Crisis
• Sacrifice and Suffering
• The Rainbow Bridge
• Death and Resurrection, Rebirth, and Transformation
• Revelation
• Ascension
• Living the Dream
• The Hero

Excerpt

Having been branded with a disorder that declared that I was out of balance, I have become keenly aware of the importance of balance not just in my own life but in my family, community, and the world. When the earthquake and resultant tsunami hit Japan on March 11th, 2011, I heard that the earth actually wobbled. The whole earth had become off balance momentarily. In order to drive a car safely we often need to check to make sure the wheels are in alignment and the tires are in balance. We need balance in our world to keep us safe. We need to keep our bodies in balance. When a person is sick, it is nature’s way of telling him/her that something is wrong.

There are many ways in which our world is out of balance in our present time and in the next pages of this book I will go through my perception of the symptoms of imbalance in our world. It is my hope that with awareness of these problems we can summon the will to correct the imbalances. In order for our world to be at peace there must be justice. With justice, equality and balance is restored where it is needed. When I use the word justice I do not mean revenge; the justice I am referring to involves compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation.