Witness to Two Worlds: A Memoir of Bipolar Disorder, Immigration, and Faith

For decades, Giovanna Campomizzi May was afraid someone would discover her secret. Though she was a perfect student, obedient daughter, devout Catholic, loving wife, and devoted mother, she was mentally ill.

This is the story of her long path to self-acceptance: a spiritual journey of letting go, the healing power of unconditional love, and the ways people between two worlds must learn to weave those worlds together, or be fragmented by both.

"Witness to Two Worlds" gives hope to not only those who suffer from mental health diseasebut also to family members who desperately want to understand their loved one's pain." -Kathleen Beabout, Librarian

Giovanna Campomizzi May is an Italian-American immigrant with bipolar disorder. She was a middle school science teacher for sixteen years, during which time she was honored in the Teacher Recognition Program by Canandaigua National Bank. She also served as the Religious Formation Coordinator with St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. An excerpt from her memoir was published in As You Were, The Military Review. Giovanna has a master's degree in Education and lives in Rochester, NY with her husband. They have three kids and six grandchildren.