Bridgewater Author Aims To Break Stigma Around Mental Illness Through Memoir

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater mother, author, educator, and mental health advocate Denise Pimentel doesn't hold back on sharing her journey through mental illness, stroke recovery, and the unshakable faith that carried her through in her newly released memoir, "Unshaken."

Pimentel published the book earlier this year with the hope of removing the stigma surrounding mental illness.

"I wanted to show that even a genetically passed-down mental illness is not the end," said Pimentel. "With the right treatment plan — daily medication, therapy, psychiatric care, community, family, and faith — you can live a full and meaningful life and even be successful."

Pimentel was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her 20s, but at the time, her parents were unaware that mental illness can be genetically passed down. It wasn't until Pimentel was older that she discovered her grandmother had bipolar disorder and her aunt had schizophrenia.

"One of the things that I think needs to be said out loud is that you need to be educated about your family. What can be passed down to you? Because what the doctors told me is that, had I known this was genetically passed down, there are certain triggers you can avoid so that you don't spiral into those illnesses, because they may not necessarily come to life unless you are putting yourself in certain situations," said Pimentel, who referenced her first abusive marriage that triggered her.

At first, when Pimentel was diagnosed, she tried to hide it from herself and the world.

"I was embarrassed when I found out, because I was a teacher. I had gone through college successfully. I didn't struggle as a child. So suddenly, here I am with this label thrown on me," said Pimentel. "It embarrassed me, it confused me. There were times that I stopped taking my medication because of the stigma... I hid that secret for so long because I'm like, nobody's gonna hire me. Nobody's gonna want me to work for them. And it's that stigma that keeps people from treatment."

Stroke

As a result, Pimentel was hospitalized four times and eventually had a stroke in December 2024 that left her with cognitive challenges and mild physical weakness. She completed four to five months of physical and occupational therapy and spent seven to eight months in cognitive therapy.

The stroke is what really shone a light for Pimentel to stop resisting treatment and start taking her medication.

She realized the treatment for her stroke was "just as important as the mental health treatment. And some people don't see it that way, but it is."

"Just as I needed immediate treatment to survive my stroke, people with mental illness need access to care without stigma," said Pimentel. "We must see both physical and mental health treatment as lifesaving."

Sharing Her Story

Pimentel is now sharing her story and journey of traumas, grief, illness, struggles, and hospitalization to help others, including those like her own students.

Pimentel has been a teacher since 2001 in multiple school districts, and in recent years, she worked as a home instructor for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District.

"Many of the students I serve cannot attend school due to anxiety, depression, or health issues. Too often, these students believe they cannot achieve at the same level as their peers — a stigma I myself have endured but overcome since my twenties, when I was strapped with a label," said Pimentel. "My work in home instruction inspired me to be a voice for these students, so they don’t lose hope in themselves."

She noted that her story helped one parent who broke down in tears when she shared that she lived with the same bipolar diagnosis as her son.

"That honesty gave her hope, and it reminded me why sharing my story matters," said Pimentel.

Removing The Stigma

"Unshaken" is available on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble.

"My goal is just for us as a community to raise our children to have compassion and not immediately judge, because not every person who has a mental illness is out there to hurt someone," said Pimentel. "We need to come together, break the stigma, and help people through it."

For more information or to purchase "Unshaken," visit www.glorifiedwriting.com.

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