In Our Blood: A Memoir

She Writes Press, 2022

Book cover with a large red maple leaf and orange leaves behind it, titled "In Our Blood: A Memoir" by Caitlin Billings.

When Caitlin Billings became a therapist, she did so with an intention to heal from her past. She wasn't planning on a mental health relapse, an involuntary psychiatric hold, or the slow unraveling that would follow.

In Our Blood is the story of what happens when the person who holds space for others needs someone to hold space for them. It is a memoir about bipolar disorder, motherhood, trauma, and the long, unglamorous work of reclaiming a life — told with the honesty of someone who knows both sides of the therapeutic relationship.

Raw, redemptive, and deeply human, In Our Blood is for anyone who has ever felt like they were supposed to have it together — and didn't.

Firebird Book Awards · Literary Titan Gold · IPPY Silver · International Book Awards Finalist · Indies Today Finalist

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What readers and reviewers are saying:

"An important and powerful contribution to the genre. A must-read for both mental health professionals and general readers alike — a work that speaks to the hope of healing and wholeness for us all."
— Marya Hornbacher, New York Times bestselling author of Wasted and Madness: A Bipolar Life

"A compelling, evocative and — with its intergenerational focus — unique addition to the mental health literature."
— Merryl Hammond, PhD, author of Mad Like Me: Travels in Bipolar Country

"More than a memoir or a case study, this is a page-turner that will draw you all the way in and have you rooting for the author and her family — and maybe even help you feel a little less alone."
— Dave Stevens, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

"In stunningly sharp and vivid language… Billings joins a growing number of therapists and doctors who push back against the stigma within the field. Bravo!"
— Willa Goodfellow, author of Prozac Monologues: A Voice from the Edge

"An impassioned memoir that shares an authentic journey… an important piece of mental health literature and should be a must-read for anyone looking for personal experiences with mental illness."
— Literary Titan, five-star review

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