Chris grew up with great potential for success. Her first book, No Guarantees, was published days after turning 20. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder around the same time, no one could have predicted the course her life would take. Mania, depression, psychosis, 10 admissions to psychiatric hospitals, more than 25 different psychiatric medications, 17 psychiatrists, and at least 10 therapists. She used marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, mescaline, PCP, and whatever else she could get her hands on. By 26, she lived with homelessness and a serious addiction to crack. To navigate her life, it takes an alternate universe, a parent who never gives up, and a multitude of caring people to keep her alive. Years later, Chris has stumbled through bipolar disorder and its symptoms. She's learned what it takes to be part of the world. It'll never be easy.
I'm Christiane Wells, author of Magical Shrinking. Also author of No Guarantees: A Young Woman's Struggle to Overcome Drug and Alcohol Addiction." It was published under my maiden name, Chris Campbell, in 1993 by New Discovery Books, a division of Macmillan. (New Discovery doesn't exist anymore, and the book is out-of-print).
I prefer to be called Chris. I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, with my husband, Jason, and our son, Jack. Jack is four, and the greatest little kid ever. He's amazing. Jason is also amazing. We've lived here in Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch for 5 years now. Upon moving here, I attended the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, and have my Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in child welfare.
