Bad Hair Day on Planet Earth is a story of struggle and hope. It is at once both relatable and remarkable. Mundane and extraordinary. Depressing and ultimately full of hope.

Bad Hair Day on Planet Earth tells Barbara's story of pain and healing, but it is not unique to her.

Mental illness touches all of our lives in some way, personally, or through witnessing the struggle of loved ones. Depression, addiction, eating disorders, and the impact on family. They all show up here. First hand, completely raw. We see illness through Barbara’s journals, letters, lists, drawings, and audiocassettes. We experience her family's desperation through transcribed family therapy sessions. Her writing, her meticulous record-keeping, allow us all to see the depth of her illness as she and her family lived it — one day, one hour, one moment at a time.

She also allows us to see her slow, indirect path to health. We observe the subtle shifts that mark the beginning of a new life. We watch bits of light expand. We see what healing can look like. 

When most of us first met Barbara, we saw a powerful, mysterious woman — the successful owner of a thriving yoga center. The story we’re telling here reveals what came before. And offers possibility and hope for what can follow.