Creative Mind

Nicole Nagy was not an average teenager, in spite of trying hard to be one. That's because she was grappling with mental illness, which affected most every part of her daily existence. This is the story of her life--how she first encountered allergies, infections, and coughing fits, which led to speech therapists, special education classes, anxiety, depression, psychiatrists, seizures, and eventual brain surgery--and how she learned to navigate her way to success as a young woman. Nicole's journal entries demonstrate how a creative mind can often amplify the strong emotional reactions and extreme thinking of mental illness. Her story is a cautionary tale for families, schools, and health professionals and will help us better understand how the brain works and how challenging it can be for so many kids grappling in the shadows with these issues.