Now Looking Back Going Forward A Journey Of Wellbeing Through Schizophrenia

Anne-Louise is creative, sensitive ... and schizophrenic. But having a mental illness doesn’t mean she is unhappy. On the contrary, Anne-Louise takes pleasure in nature and human nature. Expressed in this book of poetry and prose are the thoughts and emotions of an astonishingly strong woman who has perservered through emotional and physical trauma. Interesting, touching and informative, Now, looking back, going forward might help others in understanding what it is like to live with a mental illness.

A gripping memoir that challenges our perceptions and understanding of schizophrenia.

OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATIONAL BESTSELLER The heartrending story of a mid-century American family with twelve children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science's great hope in the quest to understand--even cure--the disease. Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the dream. After World War II, Don's work with the US Air Force brought them to Colorado, where their twelve children perfectly spanned the baby boom: the oldest born in 1945, the youngest in 1965. In those years there was an established script for a family like the Galvins--aspiration, hard work, upward mobility, domestic harmony--and they worked hard to play their parts. But behind the scenes was a different story: psychological breakdown, sudden shocking violence, hidden abuse. By the mid-1970s, six of the ten Galvin boys were diagnosed as schizophrenic. How could all this happen in one family? What took place inside the house on Hidden Valley Road was so extraordinary that the Galvins became one of the first families to be studied by the National Institutes of Mental Health. Their shocking story also offers a shadow history of the science of schizophrenia, from the era of institutionalization, lobotomy and the premise of the schizophrenogenic mother, to the search for genetic markers for the disease, always amidst profound disagreements about the nature of the illness itself. Unknown to the Galvins, samples of their DNA informed decades of genetic research that continues today, offering paths to treatment and even the possibility of the eradication of the disease for future generations. With clarity and compassion, bestselling and award-winning author Robert Kolker uncovers one family's unforgettable legacy of suffering, love and hope.

Your life should always go forward. Therefore, your life’s journey should be one that propels you forward, but what if it doesn’t? Quite often, those with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses have a rough path, a path strewn with tangled roots. In Taking Control of Schizophrenia, author Stewart (Andy) Lighthouse addresses common concerns to enable individuals to take control of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Based on the author’s personal story and his work in mental health, this guide discusses an array of topics, including managing one’s medications, dealing with medication side effects, anger control, peace of mind, mind control, the concept of “thought process disorder,” adapting to life after hospitalization, and dealing with many other challenges often associated with schizophrenia. With a host of resources and tips included, Taking Control of Schizophrenia offers keen insight into living with a mental illness every day. It helps both individuals and their caregivers understand and manage their well-being.

A journey definitely worth taking—most definitely worth the read! - Jack R. Eastman, R.N. Wow! “Right on time.” Michelle has done it again! This is sure to be a bestseller. Our 47 year old author, a native of Albuquerque, NM, published her first book “Bipolar No More: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery” in 2008. Now, we’re again fortunate and inspired as she takes us on a short journey and infuses us with insight, foresight, and hope in our universal quest to maintain mental stability and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Michelle always makes us feel instantly seen, while creating meaningful connections with her audience. This memoir is written for anyone who has been touched by mental illness and/ or COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a guide, a tool, a comforter, uses various coping techniques, and provides support and views from the secular and Christian world. Michelle invites you to take this one-of-a-kind journey to find hope, help and answers to your most asked questions. Her experiences living with Bipolar I Disorder for 20 years will bring you inner peace so that you, too, can find the answers you need for today, tomorrow and always. One in four Americans are struck each year with a mental illness. While these are challenging enough to deal with, beginning in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic was added to the equation-causing numerous outbreaks of hospitalizations. Endless isolation, depression, and anxiety soared to all-time levels as did suicide.

For most of us, the term 'recovery' in mental health implies hope and normality for those suffering from emotional distress. It is understandable why recovery has therefore become a significant goal for mental health services. But what does recovery mean for those who are struggling to see it through? Is the emphasis on recovery always a positive thing. This book takes a critical sociological look at personal and public assumptions and understandings. In particular: - It explores what the recovery movement signifies today, offering readers a critical, reflexive view of its scientific, policy and political consequences - It considers what recovery means from social, medical and patient perspectives, and the implications of these conflicting views - It reveals some of the risks and benefits for people with mental health problems encountering a system that expects them to recover Offering a comprehensive and thought-provoking overview of the concept of recovery from mental illness, this book is a must-have for students studying mental health across a range of subjects, including sociology, social work, psychology and nursing.

"With an introduction by Dr. Richard O'Reilly"--Cover.