{"product_id":"nothing-general-about-it-maurice-benard-memoir-ca-0062973398","title":"Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Maurice Benard\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaurice Benard has portrayed Sonny Corinthos on ABC's \u003cem\u003eGeneral Hospital\u003c\/em\u003e since 1993, earning multiple Daytime Emmy nominations. Off-screen, he is a passionate mental health advocate, using his platform to destigmatize bipolar disorder through his podcast \u003cem\u003eState of Mind\u003c\/em\u003e and public speaking. In his memoir \u003cem\u003eNothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital\u003c\/em\u003e, he combines his personal journey with practical insights for those navigating similar challenges.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Nothing General About It?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis memoir offers an unflinching look at Benard's lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. With unwavering honesty, he takes readers behind the scenes of his iconic role and reveals the private struggles that nearly derailed his career and family. More than a celebrity tell-all, it is a powerful testament to resilience, the importance of mental health treatment, and the sustaining power of love. Canadian readers will appreciate his candidness about medication and therapy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Themes and Stories\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBenard pulls no punches. He describes the manic highs and devastating lows that have marked his life, including multiple hospitalizations and the role medication—particularly lithium—has played in stabilizing his mood. The book also offers an insider's look at the soap opera world, sharing anecdotes from decades on \u003cem\u003eGeneral Hospital\u003c\/em\u003e. Above all, it is a love story: how his wife's unwavering support and the birth of his children gave him reason to keep fighting. Readers have praised the book for its raw, emotional rollercoaster and for shedding light on a condition often misunderstood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho Should Read This Memoir?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is for fans of Maurice Benard who want to understand the real person behind the character. It is also for anyone touched by mental illness—whether personally or through a loved one. Readers of memoirs like \u003cem\u003eAn Unquiet Mind\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eThe Centre Cannot Hold\u003c\/em\u003e will appreciate Benard's candid account. Mental health professionals, caregivers, and anyone seeking hope in the face of bipolar disorder will find this story both educational and inspiring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs this book only about mental illness?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. While mental health is a central theme, the book also covers Benard's acting career, his family life, and his path to self-acceptance. It is a full-life memoir.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDoes the book include clinical details about bipolar disorder?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBenard shares his personal experiences with symptoms, treatment, and medication, but the book is not a clinical manual. It is a first-person narrative that may offer hope and insight to readers familiar with the condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs there any content that may be triggering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. The book contains honest discussions of suicidal ideation, mania, depression, and psychiatric hospitalization. Readers who are sensitive to these topics may wish to proceed with caution.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat format is available?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis listing is for the paperback edition. The book is also available in hardcover, audio, and digital formats elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: This description is based on the product title, author, and category information available. For detailed content and chapter summaries, please refer to the publisher's official description.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48333879083246,"sku":null,"price":47.2,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0816\/1158\/7822\/files\/71097syumkL._SL1500_4952f70e-ac20-418a-a63f-54efa906bf5b.jpg?v=1784248688","url":"https:\/\/vitamin4ca.com\/products\/nothing-general-about-it-maurice-benard-memoir-ca-0062973398","provider":"vitamin4ca","version":"1.0","type":"link"}