Point Books In Pursuance Of A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness
| ISBN: | 1616491213 (ISBN13: 9781616491215) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Tom Davis
Paperback | Pages: 288 pages Rating: 3.63 | 173 Users | 21 Reviews
Relation During Books A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness
The story of a loving family coming to grips with its own fragilities, A Legacy of Madness relays the author's journey to uncover, and ultimately understand, the history of mental illness that led generations of his suburban American family to their demise. Dede Davis had worried, fussed, and obsessed for the last time: Her heart stopped beating in a fit of anxiety. In the wake of his mother's death, Tom Davis knew one thing: Helplessly self-absorbed and severely obsessive compulsive, Dede led a tormented life. She spent years bouncing around mental health facilities, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities, but what really caused her death? A Legacy of Madness portrays Tom Davis's captivating discoveries of mental illness throughout generations of his family. Investigating his mother's history led to that of Davis's grandfather, a top administrator at one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country; his great-grandfather who died of self-inflicted gas asphyxiation during the Depression; and his great-great grandmother who, with her eldest son, completed suicide one tragic day. Ultimately, four generations of family members showed clear signs of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and alcoholism—often mistreated illnesses that test one's ability to cope. Through this intimate memoir, we join Davis on a personal odyssey to ensure that he and his siblings, the fifth generation,—recover their family legacy by not only surviving their own mental health disorders but by getting the help they need to lead healthy, balanced lives. In the end, we witness Davis's powerful transition as he makes peace with the past and heals through forgiveness and compassion for his family—and himself.
Identify Based On Books A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness
| Title | : | A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness |
| Author | : | Tom Davis |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 288 pages |
| Published | : | September 1st 2011 by Hazelden |
| Categories | : | Psychology. Health. Mental Health. Nonfiction. Autobiography. Memoir. Mental Illness. Self Help. Biography |
Rating Based On Books A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness
Ratings: 3.63 From 173 Users | 21 ReviewsEvaluation Based On Books A Legacy of Madness: Recovering My Family from Generations of Mental Illness
This book is a true story about Tom Davis and his family's struggles with mental illness. It contains many personal stories about his own experience with bulimia and how his family dealt with his mother and grandfather who suffered from depression, OCD, and were alcoholics. He also investigates the circumstances around the suicides of his great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother.I was impressed by the author's story and willingness to share very personal information about his family'sTom Davis tells of his family's history of mental illness. The aggravations of insurance, laws, and society's ignorance, and impatience with suffers are discussed. Mental illness is medical issue and has history just like every other medical issues with genetic underpinnings. Obituaries and police reports reveal a history of suicide, starting with his mother's great-grandmother, who committed suicide by gassing herself alongside her son, and his mothers's grandfather who joined them a few years
I guess the fact that the father of the author was my elementary school principal and I know all of the towns, beaches, etc mentioned in the book helped me enjoy reading about a very heavy subject. Written with great candor, this story sheds light on the horrors and frustrations of dealing with mental illness in the family as well as the opportunity to improve one's own mental health. An important book.
So, I did enjoy this book, but I was left extremely frustrated. I wanted to read the book in the first place because my family faces many of the same issues that are described in the blurb. However, I am the spouse in this situation. I married in to a family with severe anxiety disorders. My Mother in law is OCD, her father was nearly incapacitated by agoraphobia, her sister has what I believe is turrets syndrome, you get the picture. My husband deals with many of the same issues including panic
I bailed on this book, not because it wasn't good, but because it just wasn't what I was hoping it would be, and I didn't want to spend the time finishing it. A highly readable story about a man exploring the history of mental illness in his family. I was hoping it would deal more with coming to terms with what it means to inherit mental illness, and how to deal with the resentment and responsibility of that, but that didn't seem to be a big focus in the book.
A must read to help understand mental illness and its devastating impact on families. Tom writes with great clarity and detail about his mom's struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcoholism. He delves into his family's history and the tragedies of how failing mental health has cascaded through prior generations. The author also recognizes his own issues, those of his siblings and the steps taken to protect his children's mental health.
Review copy won on Goodreads.com on 3-13-12.Mr. Davis shows amazing courage to discuss these issues in such a public forum. Thank you for sharing this very personal matter so that others may learn from your family's experience. Well done.
0 Comments