The Pot of Jasmine

The Pot of Jasmine

At 17 Anahita leaves her war-torn country to take refuge in Canada, where she can feel, taste, touch, and smell freedom with every fibre of her being. Throughout many years of working hard trying to achieve her dream of becoming a prominent physicist, she struggles with depression, culminating in a manic episode which leads to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. This story depicts the reality of living with a mental illness while achieving professional success, and it demonstrates how mental health issues can affect personal relationships. After working as an engineer for 20 years, Ms. Zarrinkoub decided to pursue her more creative and artistic passions, including writing. Having experienced the challenges of immigration and mental health issues, she knew she had something to say and could help others in trying to overcome their own trials and tribulations. In this work of biographical fiction, she presents a realistic and intimate portrait of a person living with bipolar disorder.