Overcoming Schizoaffective Disorder: Theresa's Triumph Through Academics, Faith, Music, & Resilience Despite Mental Health Challenges. Theresa's journey is an inspiring testament to resilience in the face of formidable adversity. Despite being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder during her sophomore year at the University of Notre Dame, she maintained her academic excellence, even salvaging a perfect 4.0 GPA during her master's degree amidst hospitalizations. This triumphant tale traces her journey through a tumultuous upbringing, a challenging mental illness, and the self-discovery that led her to become an award-winning self-taught songwriter. Raised by divorced parents, both psychologists, Theresa's childhood was tinged with emotional detachment. It was not until a soul friend's intervention at boarding school that she began to unravel her feelings, only to face abandonment at the brink of a psychotic breakdown. This pattern of betrayal and rejection is a recurring theme in Theresa's life, yet it is met each time with an unwavering resolve to remain resilient. Through these tribulations, Theresa's story is punctuated with figures of unwavering support, such as her close friend Maria Alevras-Chen, who stood by her side during her hospitalization and manic episode. Her mentor, Lora Miles, whose name Theresa gave to her older twin daughter, remained a steadfast presence even during her darkest moments. Despite the pain of her past, Theresa found redemption and self-esteem in music, faith, comedy, and the unwavering support of her support network. With every hospitalization, every setback, there was a song, a prayer, a laugh, a hand to hold. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience and the strength of the human spirit. My Brain Makes Me Proud is an exploration of Theresa's 25-year journey coping with mental illness. It is a song of triumph sung in the face of hardship, a testament to the power of the human spirit. It is a story of resilience, of how one woman refused to be defined by her circumstances, and instead chose to define herself by her resilience.