Ruben Roa's Elegant Ambivalence offers an inside and personal look into the world of mental illness and how one can find great spiritual strength for guidance and happiness. At the center of this book is the story of embracing faith, loving family and overcoming mental illness. Roa goes into great detail about his family in the United States and his Venezuelan heritage, which has a heavy influence on him. The book contains powerful details about the troubling times in Roa's life including the painful separation of his parents, something that has impacted the lives of many children. The traumas Roa encountered during his childhood led to his downward spiral and inspiring recovery. Roa overcame many of the emotional and mental issues by finding faith and letting God be his guide. His journey is inspiring to anyone overcoming personal problems.
This book is a glimpse into the very complicated life of Ruben Roa.
About the Author: Ruben Roa is a God-fearing Christian and homosexual male whom originally hails from Caracas, Venezuela. His parents immigrated to the United States in the late 1970's where they lived in Rochester, New York before settling in Northern Virginia in 1984. Arlington County is where Ruben and his parents lived, and though Ruben's parents never lost sight of their Latin American Culture & Heritage, they always made sure Ruben's upbringing also incorporated anything and everything from the great American Dream. Ruben's parents learned English while still young, worked hard for everything they ever earned, completed college meanwhile working full-time and supporting their only child. Though not at all rich, Ruben was spoiled rotten from day one and never once went without want, period.
Ruben's first mental breakdown occurred at age fifteen and from then on, Ruben recklessly and miraculously endured through nineteen crazy years of a highly manic, Bipolar I Disorder afflicted life. Ruben only survived because God's hands of favor and also his family's countless prayers were constantly on him.
Ruben also majored in Psychology while enrolled in Community College, however never completed his studies. Dropping out of school was an easy choice, as he more heavily focused on working and "playing and having fun" all throughout his twenties. Ruben finally "woke up" in 2008 after experiencing his darkest mental and most near-lethal Mixed Bipolar Episode.
Ruben finally learned, and chose to pick himself up by his own boot straps and fortunately through God's and countless Mental Health Professionals' help, collectively mended his broken self.
Ruben also worked in Medical Office Administration for six years before returning to his preferable professional, working habitat of Customer Service, where he is currently (and happily) slaving away as a busy bee!
Ruben's intentions with Elegant Ambivalence are to educate, and entertain to a global audience about bringing a stronger awareness to Mental Illness and all those afflicted by it... and yes, the suburban Washington, D.C. area is still home!
