A Cookie for Each Hand: Two Sons with Bipolar Disorder, my Faith and NAMI! — Dianne Hiltman
Andy Knight
It's a marathon, it's a sprint; it's a tornado and a hurricane. There's a lot to learn; life is forever altered. How do I maintain my center, hold onto my marriage (or, manage this as a single parent), and keep out of the quagmire of despair? Where do I find help and hope? How do I best support my ill loved ones who live in anosognosia ?(someone unaware of their own mental health condition). Am I enabling or being a loving parent? Am I bribing or rewarding? Is it OK to "love" conditionally? So many questions! And we will leave some time for your questions, as well!
Dianne Hiltman has lived in the Atlanta area for 40 years. She has been a nurse, nurse-midwife and nurse educator. She has served as an active volunteer at her children’s school, in their family’s church and in the community. She taught drug and alcohol programming for a decade at the Lovett School in Atlanta and retired in 2014. Dianne became deeply interested in mental health issues when close family members were diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. She is actively supportive of their recovery and is a Teacher and State Trainer for the NAMI Signature Program Family to Family, having felt immense hope after attending it with her husband, Paul. She is committed to extending the NAMI program offerings to family members and peers so that persons living with Mental Illness may experience hope, support, and recovery. Currently she serves as President of NAMI DeKalb. For fun, she gardens and quilts. Her illustrated book, NOW GIVE IT AWAY, is available for order on Amazon.
President, NAMI DeKalb Board of Directors
Family to Family Teacher and State Trainer
Chair, DBHDD Region 3 Advisory Council