CHANGING MY MIND – Margaret Trudeau 2010

- Tells about the mental challenges faced by Margaret Trudeau

- As wife of 15th Prime Minister , she suffered from manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder

- Her book tries to give words to people who cannot articulate (express clearly) their pain and despair and have no understanding of its source

- Many photos of her life and family with brief descriptions are included

- Margaret grew up in

- Pierre grew up in a rich family – his father bought and sold service stations

- She was thirty years younger

- Had sons Justin, followed by Sacha

- Flirted with , when he was 43 - 1974

- She tried to be an independent thinker, but Pierre wanted her to act like a wife

- One day she snuck out of 24 Ssussex with Justin with no security and it made Pierre furious

- She felt very isolated at 24 Sussex

- Her French was atrocious when she visited France in 1974

- She came back to life when she was pregnant

- Pierre lived with his mother until he became prime minister

- In 1975, third son Michel was born

- Got a camera from Queen Alia of Jordan to start a hobby, but it was difficult for her to start because she was too depressed

- She was good friends with the Carters of USA

- She suffered from bouts of mania where she deliberately changed the lettering of a notable carpet Pierre had – she knew the marriage was over because Pierre did not spend time with her

- Ch 7

- Separated from Pierre in 1977 (she was 29)

- In her mania, she diverted to Toronto and Rolling Stones publicity manager used her as fodder, as Canadian journalists looked for a scandal

- She used the Stones and the Stones using her

- Pierre started dating after separation

- Close to Yasmin Aga khan and Pakistani ambassador to UN

- With mania comes extremely poor judgment

- She gave TV interviews with Phil Donahue, Jane Pauley of Good Morning America and they all turned out bad because they were too hostile and centered on her marriage break up

- She was involved in all sorts of antics

- Andy Warhall offered to paint her for $30k, but she was too scared to ask Pierre

- One of the first things that happens with the swing from mania to depression is that the body plummets into sickness – from Playgirl

- Pierre lost election to Joe Clark in 1979 and moved to Stornaway – official residence of opposition leader since 1950

- She met a doctor who advised her to take the new drug called lithium, because it provided stability to people who suffered from mood swings, like herself, and it gave her great relief

- Ch 8

- Pierre won the election in 1980 over Joe Clark by non-confidence

- She proved herself to be a responsible and a loving mother

- She was thin, fat and tried to be thin again

- House security was raised after John Lennon’s death

- Pierre divorced Margaret, but still kept in phone contact

- Met German Fried Kemper in a bar – East German background

- He was 33 and she was 34

- She learned that after the age of 36, chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically

- Her mania decreased when she was pregnant

- Her fourth son Kyle, was born in 1984, from Fried

- Another child Ally followed

- Ch 9

- She smoked marijuana, cannabis and cocaine, but preferred marijuana because it was safer; Fried did not like that

- Started taking Prozac

- Fried’s housing business suffered in early 1990s recession

- Marriage started cracking

- 10

- Stayed in the psycho ward at St. Paul hospital in Vancouver for 2 ½ months and was released in May 1998 from there

- Ended up as an outpatient at Queensway-Carleton in Ottawa-

- 11

- Fried and Michel were not intellectuals like Pierre, but enjoyed each other’s company and working with their hands

- Michel was most like his mother

- Son Michel died in avalanche on Kokanee Glacier Prov. Park

- She felt more distanced from Fried and felt closer to Pierre

- Pierre grew small and old after the incident and felt guilty because he encouraged him to try new things

- Had prostate cancer and refused medicine in 2000

- Looked sick in June 2000 and died in September 28, 2000

- Pierre had shaped Canada in his career

- For four days, Pierre’s body lay in the hall of the House of Commons

- Casket was railed to Montreal where the funeral was held

- She was greatly saddened and smoked marijuana because it allowed her to forget

- 12

- She stayed in the Royal Ottawa hospital for 2 ½ months fighting depression and bipolar illness

- Kyle and ally moved in with father Fried

- She came back home in 2001 and felt much better

- 1984 Kyle was born and 1989 Ally was born

- Caught drunk driving on Vanier parkway in Ottawa and taken in handcuffs, but case dismissed

- She participated in a lot of charity work and gave speeches