Richard Zwicky welcomes Ruth Poniarski, a talented artist and author, who recently published her compelling memoir, "Journey of the Self-Memoir of an Artist." In this gripping account, Ruth shares her personal struggle with mental illness and how she courageously overcame life's most daunting challenges.

The journey chronicled in Ruth's memoir begins when she inadvertently ingests angel dust (PCP) at a college party. This fateful event led to a series of death defying nervous breakdowns, culminating in a horrific accident that resulted in a thirty-foot fall. "I sailed between two worlds," says Ruth, "between the 'one' that I knew and the place that I feared."

Throughout her memoir, Ruth candidly discusses her battle with anxiety, depression, and mania, leading to severe insomnia. She poignantly describes her journey to find the right treatment and diagnosis, and how she emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before. "Never abandon hope in the waking hours of affliction," says Ruth, encapsulating her unwavering spirit.

Ruth's memoir delves into various compelling topics, including establishing healthy relationships, finding one's passion and the perfect mate, understanding coping patterns with stress, and discovering oneself and one's limitations.