Beautiful Chaos: A Life Worth Living with Bipolar

Description

Bipolar? No one really knows what it is. Even today it's still misunderstood and badly affected by stigma. Ali Douglas was no different when she was diagnosed in 2009. Beautiful Chaos is the story of one woman's triumph against Bipolar II and a no-holds-barred account of the reality that comes with the diagnosis. An established television presenter for more than 20 years, Ali Douglas presented the ITN national news, and made history by becoming the first woman to present football's Scottish Premier League. Despite her outwardly glamorous, showbiz lifestyle, mixing with sports personalities and TV celebrities, Ali was secretly fighting wild mood swings and devastating depression, and turned to drugs and alcohol as a way to escape. At her lowest point, she came dangerously close to ending her life. After 35 years of battling serious mental illness, Ali was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder II. The diagnosis changed her life beyond recognition. In a journey of self-discovery, healing and acceptance, Ali's first non-fiction book, `Beautiful Chaos', describes her chaotic, heart wrenching, but at times amusing existence, prior to receiving treatment and finding the determination to seek out a meaningful and happy life. Compassionate, informative and funny, `Beautiful Chaos' depicts a breathtakingly honest account of what it's really like to live with bipolar.

Ali Douglas was a television presenter for more than 20 years, presenting Sky Sports News and the ITV national news to name but a few, and made history by becoming the first woman to present the Scottish Premier League. Her successful and high profile life was a far cry from what was going on behind the scenes though. Ali was battling serious mental illness but it wasn't until the age of 35 that she received a correct diagnosis of Bipolar. After a successful career, Ali made the decision to retire from television in May 2017 to become more of a hands-on mummy to her then 5-year-old son, MK. Life doesn't always go to plan though... Ali made the decision to begin blogging anonymously on her life with the illness (talkandcheese.net). Then, just a couple of months later, she landed a book deal. Ali's autobiography came out in November 2018. Now, juggling motherhood with her writing career, Ali has found that it is possible to have a meaningful and happy life, despite living with bipolar.