Literature as Therapy: How Life is What You Make It Sheds Light on Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Life is filled with unavoidable ups and downs that can either add beauty to our journey or bring challenges to overcome. Facing life with determination allows individuals to overcome obstacles effectively. Preeti Shenoy’s Life is What You Make It vividly portrays the transformative journey of rediscovering herself with hope. Psychologists view Bipolar disorder as a manageable condition with the right support, encouraging individuals to focus on strategies for leading fulfilling lives. Hope is a powerful emotional state that inspires individuals to pursue goals, make decisions, and overcome challenges. In the novel, Ankita successfully conquers bipolar disorder through the power of hope. Life is What you Make it , tells the story from the asylum to which she is admitted for treatment for mental illness. Preeti Shenoy’s takes the reader back to her college days, love, its failure, her dream and its disaster. The story comes to the present when Ankita is taken to NHMI for consultation. It brings forth the journey of the protagonist focusing particularly on widespread problem about Bipolar disorder. Moreover, the narration ends with her recovery from Bipolar disorder. The story highlights the belief of the author that although life as it has been destined yet it is the hope of the individual through which she can manipulate his own destiny. Mental health is a taboo subject all around the world, more so in India this was explored beautifully by the author. People were not aware about it and its severity. The author has done a great work in making this novel as awareness about mental illness. Through this fictional narration the author intends to prove that people with bipolar disorder can even face a life with positivity and they can lead a complete life with strong determination and spirit.