A debut memoir from

author, Christine P. Dela Rosa

Just how far would you go to meet the ​obligations of friendship and loyalty?

*Now Available on all major online book sellers*

“Awareness, empathy, and perhaps even healing can be found through the vulnerabilities Dela Rosa ​shares in her journey navigating her best friend's mental illness.” -Christina Ygoña Nelson

At first, the two are an inseparable pair, ​growing because of each other, until Lien’s ​first episodes of bipolar disorder hit, and the ​two struggle to hold on to the magic that ​once made their connection so special. ​Through childhood flashbacks, scene ​retellings, and personal essays, Christine ​shares a confluence of emotions associated ​with high expectations from cultural norms, ​the union and breaking apart of a ​codependent friendship, and first-hand ​experiences with the mental healthcare ​system in America. This story is an ​opportunity for those who have been in ​similar roles to embrace and heal the feelings ​they had during their experiences.

“Between Two Poles is a stunning coming-of-age story, an intimate reflection of Dela ​Rosa finding herself as a best friend and losing herself as her best friend’s caregiver. ​Introspective and unflinchingly candid, she lifts the veil on the cultural expectations of ​her Filipino heritage, how to support someone through the mania of bipolar disorder, and ​the uncomfortable journey of losing control in an uncontrollable situation. Part memoir ​and part self-help, Dela Rosa captures the nonlinear highs and lows of what it means to ​give and receive love, to others and oneself.”

Julie Nguyen

Writer, trauma-informed relationship coach, and professional matchmaker

“Between Two Poles is a story of deep & extraordinary friendship. In this memoir, the ​author shows open-heartedness, empathy and grace as she reflects on the mental health ​struggles of Lien, a friend suffering from bipolar disorder.

We begin with two college roommates turned BFFs, who find that they can share things ​they couldn’t with anyone else before: It wasn’t just the constant encouragement and ​validation that shaped our end-of-college personalities. No, it was the bravery we had in ​opening up to each other and the world.

As Lien’s episodes appear more frequently and worsen, the author’s sense of loss in never ​being able to see the OG Lien again, and her desire that these episodes be a blip in the ​long-game of friends whose lives were intertwined serve as a backdrop to Lien’s ​remarkable bravery in trying to understand her thoughts, emotions and behavior. In ​moments of lucidity between delusions, Lien confronts this: Everything’s going to be okay. ​I don’t always understand what’s going on. I know that.

Throughout the book, the author questions the actions and responsibility of everyone who ​comes into contact with Lien: her friends & family, first responders, medical providers, ​hospital staff, as well as Lien and herself. The author is not afraid to confront her role in ​Lien’s life and the treatment of her illness. She brings in explorations of her upbringing – ​her family background, cultural and spiritual values – in considering the past and why she ​may have made the decisions she made.

As witness and caretaker (at times unwillingly), the author describes Lien’s episodes with ​compassion. For instance, when Lien misinterprets a romantic relationship to the extreme, ​the author writes: I didn’t think I would feel this bad, but when your best friend is sad, ​you’re immediately sad, even if you think it’s for ridiculous reasons. Her delusion was ​clearly false, but her feelings were absolutely real.

To me, this is ultimately a story of strength, love and triumph, one in which the author and ​Lien navigate the complexities of her illness – as individuals and best friends – who are ​simply trying to live their lives, while seeking the best care for Lien. It is a tender, humorous ​and moving story that speaks to the beauty of friendship and the human spirit in the face ​of adversity.”

Angela Siew | Poet, Instructor

“Between Two Poles starts with the author finding a meaningful friendship and then ​shifts gears into the struggle of the discovery that one’s dearest friend struggles with ​mental illness. Yes, we discover just how far the narrator will take the obligation of ​friendship and loyalty.

Christine embroiders the quandary of a devoted person who is crippled with worry about her ​best friend’s descent into mental illness. I felt as though I was reading my own life story here, ​but with more elaborate references to interesting pop culture. My brother (also my childhood ​best friend) suffered from mental illness, and I often questioned reality when we tried to ​engage in conversation. My brother’s insistence that his reality was the right one despite his ​inability to function in the world in which I was living was frustrating, infuriating and caused me ​to step away from him completely. Yet the author remains the champion of her friend Lien, ​from one psych hospital stay to the next, and so forth.

The book is weighty in that it goes into the mind of the caregiver; the fear and the fright before ​an initial medical diagnosis is made, the panic when one realizes how few healthy options exist ​to treat mental illness in today’s world and the loss of the friendship as it had once been.

Much like a person who develops Alzheimer’s disease, the relationships they once were able to ​maintain cannot be supported and nurtured in the same fashion. The loneliness of the author is ​also highlighted here; she feels that she should be doing more for her friend, but is also semi-​conscious of the fact that absolutely nothing can be done to change the brain chemistry of ​another person.

Between Two Poles is a personal and candid memoir about the complications of loving ​someone with mental illness. It is about how easily we can slip into the auras and psyches of ​the people we surround ourselves with. The book is kind and nonjudgmental if we do find ​ourselves going too far overboard and at risk of losing our own grip on reality.

I have lived the story of this memoir, as have so many other people. I read Between Two Poles a ​few weeks ago. It came at the right time. My brother with mental illness died after my initial ​read of this work two years ago and before the reread Christine sent to my house in a ​paperback version. In reading it, I was reminded that I did everything I could for my brother, ​and I also did too much. But none of that matters now. My brother knows how much I loved him, ​and his brain chemicals are no longer punishing him for things he never did. As much as the ​author makes peace with her friendship with Lien, so have I reconnected with my brother ​through the ether. Thank you, Christine. Stories heal people and this one healed me.”

Becca Ironside | Author, Health Educator, Pelvic Physical Therapist

Curious about communities, compelled by narrative non-​fiction, and seeking reasons to bring people together

Christine has worked across public health, community-​building, and collaboration industries, facilitating behavior ​change through marketing and public-facing programs. ​She has written on emotional well-being professionally and ​volunteers with organizations supporting wellness, like S​an Francisco CASA--a nonprofit that empowers everyd​ay citizens to advocate for abused and neglected fost​er children. Residing in California, Christine enjoys listening ​to both audiobooks and podcasts while on daily walks​.

For book talks and interviews, comments and ​questions, or a other message for connection, ​please reach out to Christine via email or ​LinkedIn.

Email

cdelarosa (at) gmail (dot) com

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/christinepdelarosa