Imagine: You are twenty-two, a promising music student, when you begin to notice strange, disturbing phenomena, such as a sudden obsession with body weight and the presence of "Martians" who periodically interrupt your work. After a few months, the Martians have taken over, and keeping up with assignments becomes increasingly difficult. This is the story of Julie Greene, who finally sought help in the mental health system to rid her symptoms. After dropping out of school one semester before graduation, her condition worsened as she got more and more immersed in her illness and the mental health system that was supposed to help her. Through personal essays, fiction, and memoir excerpts, Julie shares her unusual life with its joys and sorrows, her eighteen-year battle with severe mental illness, and her sudden recovery at age forty. "I can't take my recovery for granted," Julie says. "I am happy. I am strong.

Every day is a miracle. But I will never forget where I'm coming from." Read Breakdown Lane, Traveled and you will gain a new view of mental illness, a greater understanding of those who suffer, and a lasting impression of the human condition as seen through one woman's amazing life.