Dr Lisa Myers and her family suffered a personal trauma and significant loss. Part of her recovery and healing process was to turn her experience intoDr Lisa Myers and her family suffered a personal trauma and significant loss. Part of her recovery and healing process was to turn her experience into words in hope of helping others. This memoir is no means a page turner, it is written simply and was easy to pick up and put down – which always suits me. I added an extra star for the supportive nature for which it serves.
It’s always good to be reminded about the perilousness of mental health, the stigmas, and the importance of looking after ourselves just in the same way as we would cancer or diabetes for example, and I believe this is often forgotten.
…we are sick in the head, crazy or ‘nuts’. Carrying a bit too much weight doesn’t appear as shameful as having borderline personality traits or being on the autistic spectrum. We are quick to judge variances in mental health than we are with physical health. Again I relate, as being the judged.
Though the author has vast experience in her field of psychiatry, she states often this doesn’t mean she is immune; she herself has sought therapy and has learned a lot. On her story I share it in the hope that it might help you navigate your own path through your trauma.
The author realises after the violent loss of her father, what her patients have experienced, she now can understand more fully. She also issues a caution about the content and to tread carefully and always seek support if needed, and is quick to say what she has suffered isn’t the worst thing in human suffering, as she has seen a lot.
I found this so interesting, and I can relate. That is what trauma does – it creates a bitsy narrative because a frightened mind cannot be present enough to process and integrate a complete experience. The words the author uses break down more complex ideas into real life ideas. I knew a doctor that was very good at this, too. It’s helpful to those that find things hard to grasp in the throes of crisis.
As a parent, Dr Myers has a lot of simple information and reflection. Again, I found this helpful. Teenagers don’t need us to reinforce their already heightened feeling of being different. They need us to see their beautiful qualities and admire their strength of character. All it takes is for us to imagine and empathise with how tough it is to be a teenager these days.. They are not assisted by us finding fault with them.. As the adults, we are the ones who must discern the fine line between pushing them out of their comfort zone and celebrating their station in life. It requires careful and constant monitoring of our own feelings and motivations
I liked that her beloved Dad taught her a lot about life, and in hindsight she was able to reflect on these things, the more she went on her journey, and I think this would have all come out as part of the writing process. I feel I am similar to one of the observations about superficiality in empathy and understanding others pain, when people judge without walking in their shoes and without all the facts.
As the profession of psychiatry is a strong thread in this book, it comes to mind (to me) how hard it is to afford the services of a good professional in this area, as I know a lot of people that could benefit but just can’t afford it. This is not a reflection of the book but it certainly is an issue today. I’ve not read a memoir like this and I hope others can benefit from reading it.
This is a great quote:That’s when I remind myself that resilience grows fastest watered by life not going to plan.
With my sincere thanks to the author for my physical copy to read and review; I have already had a friend ask where they can read this which is very pleasing. This is a book full of personal experience and a lot laid bare, a courageous thing to achieve....more
This is a serious contemplation of an interesting and complex woman’s life story. I have not read any of her books; I will remedy this when the opportThis is a serious contemplation of an interesting and complex woman’s life story. I have not read any of her books; I will remedy this when the opportunity arises. As I read this book, my mind was wandering into the territory of Eat Pray Love, and I really did not like that book so I had a little dip. Although I do not lead a spiritual life as the author does, I did enjoy hearing about her journey, and that of her family. Given my thoughts of a book I did not enjoy, I was aware that there were swings and roundabouts in this reading experience.
There was much tragedy that the author suffered, a lot of death and loss, but this woman shows us her capability and tenacity throughout. She is a doer, a strong woman that does not shy away from anything. She punched a man in the face, twice (for very good reason), on her travels, shocking her travelling companion into quickly realising she was not meek and mild as assumed.
She has many health problems, but this really did not get much air play. The author listed the many therapies she has tried and tells us how people have called her a drug addict. She needs drugs for chronic pain, and she has many ailments. But again, this is not complained about, only discussed. The author wants to be heard, not pitied, treated with respect, not offered advice from others who have not suffered sickness.
Recently I had faced some strange health situations. I did not handle myself with grace like Heather has, so I do take pause and have great respect for this attitude. She has a great rheumatologist (the same area I had problems), I am very pleased that she has a great doctor who has committed the condition Heather has to become one of her life projects and researching it for women sufferers.
I loved hearing about Tasmania, and her worldly travels. I have never considered hours upon hours of daily meditation or participated in sweat lodges – the author lists 53 therapies over 40 years. On the other hand, she tells us of her life’s work, travels, mothering, hiking, lobbying, running a successful business and being a writer all the while without the notion of any of these problems!
Her imagined tombstone would be I made the most of every moment. I think I would add to this the words with humour and grace.
I decided upon a four star rating as this woman has overcome much, has an amazing story, and is gifted in the telling. I over came my comparison to Eat Pray Love – this isn’t fair, and I take my hat off to Heather. Another little spark of goodness that came from this experience, and encouraged me to read this book was that my spirited 19 year old daughter was in Bruny the day I requested this book from the publisher. (A novel of that name is one of the aforementioned books I need to read).
May I say, as a definite extra bonus with this book, as I alternated between hard copy and audio - this was one instance where the autor excelled in narrating her own story, I don't think this should always be carried out, but Heather delivered remarkably here. I think narrator should be added to her already huge repertoire!
With my thanks and gratitude from Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review. I love the books on offer from this publishing house....more
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