Chasing Normal, A Journey with Michael Hoffman
Chasing Normal, A Journey with Michael Hoffman
By Li Faustino, PhD
One of the rewarding as- aspects of MDSG is listening firsthand to how those who at- tend to support groups progress over time. One such story is that of Michael Hoffman, the author of Chasing Normal: My Peer Group Design for Living with Bipolar and founder of the Meetup group Meeting of the Minds— Mental Health Through Peer Support.
While at MDSG, Michael facilitated groups, directed our sites, re-designed our website, and served on our board of directors. Ivy-league educated and with a successful career, Michael writes an honest and forthcoming personal account of his journey through his mental health treatment, which led him to start hi8s own peer support network and groups.
In Chasing Normal, Michael credits MDSG for facilitating his journey of self-acceptance, introspection, and wellness. While this may be partially true, Michael’s story shows that after he dared to go further than “scrape the surface” of his condition, his true self came to exist, and in some ways reappear in a better version. He also carefully cautions against viewing Bipolar as a natural “superpower” to run with exuberantly and with abandon. Michael models taking mood disorders seriously, and with self-compassion and acceptance.
While at MDSG, Michael facilitated groups, directed our sites, re-designed our website, and served on our board of directors. Ivy-league educated and with a successful career, Michael writes an honest and forthcoming personal account of his journey through his mental health treatment, which led him to start hi8s own peer support network and groups.
In Chasing Normal, Michael credits MDSG for facilitating his journey of self-acceptance, introspection, and wellness. While this may be partially true, Michael’s story shows that after he dared to go further than “scrape the surface” of his condition, his true self came to exist, and in some ways reappear in a better version. He also carefully cautions against viewing Bipolar as a natural “superpower” to run with exuberantly and with abandon. Michael models taking mood disorders seriously, and with self-compassion and acceptance.
Michael invites you on a journey into his head as he writes his innermost thoughts during his experience in the hospital, interacting with others he encountered, and on his way back to reclaim his life. He pieces together elements of his down moments, treatment failures, and positive moments so that he could develop a formula for becoming empowered to take hold of one’s own treatment. He incorporates successful use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and peers support groups into clear and definitive steps that he describes in his book and employs in this own peer support network that he founded on his own after at- tending MDSG groups.
Chasing Normal is a raw and relatable read about a very difficult condition. It is a clear sharing of experience, the hallmark of peer support that empowers people to band together to help each other through the maze of treatment to recovery. It includes discussions of a less than perfect but in fact, much to be desired, the mental health system and the positive role of MDSG, as well as other very helpful moments along Michael’s journey.
Hoffman, Michael J. Chasing Normal: My Peer Group Design for Living with Bipolar. MPHG, Inc, 2020. 195p.
Li Faustino is chair of the MDSG board of directors.
Chasing Normal is a raw and relatable read about a very difficult condition. It is a clear sharing of experience, the hallmark of peer support that empowers people to band together to help each other through the maze of treatment to recovery. It includes discussions of a less than perfect but in fact, much to be desired, the mental health system and the positive role of MDSG, as well as other very helpful moments along Michael’s journey.
Hoffman, Michael J. Chasing Normal: My Peer Group Design for Living with Bipolar. MPHG, Inc, 2020. 195p.
Li Faustino is chair of the MDSG board of directors.
