Customer Reviews

4 reviews

• Louise Mole-Replacement

  Thank you, Jocelyn, for giving me the honour of reading and reviewing your book. It was an excellent read and clearly outline your experiences. I believe your book will give hope and reassurance to others with mental health conditions and inspire others who read it that life can be great and you are not defined by illness but by hope and love.

• Christine Bates

  An informative and detailed read on life with a serious mental health disorder. Samantha outlines her life from her early days through school, onto University, moving abroad, becoming a mother, all interspersed with episodes of mental health and breakdown. Life does not always treat her well and when things start to go wrong they often trigger complete breakdown and a need for hospitalisation. Sometimes it appears that she is her own worst enemy indulging in drugs and alcohol or was this just a way of dealing with the disorder. A temporary fix for how she was feeling. A serious traffic accident in her twenties undoubtedly contributed to her illness and she must wonder how her life may have been very different if this had not happened Little is made of her hospitalisation and the constant battle to find the right drugs with sometimes the side affects being worse than the disorder. More is made for her striving to move on from her relationships and her career. What is clear that when Samantha was well she could cope with relationships, jobs and living abroad setting up her own home. However as cracks appeared the her mental health spiralled with often disastrous consequences. It is also very apparent that Samantha was loved and supported by many but also let down by others. Her parents never gave up on her and it was clear that when they needed care in later life Samantha was able to care for them and with the help of her sisters made important decisions about their care and return their love. I enjoyed reading about her early time in France and taking on that brave decision to strike out on her own after her semi -recovery from her accident. I was compelled to read on and learn about her adventures through life. Losing love but regaining it with such a supportive partner who has helped her get through the highs and lows of her life. Samantha has had to deal with so much but has learnt to live with her limitations and appreciate the good things in life too. A much loved daughter ,sister , mother and wife.

• Christine Bates

  I like her approach because she outlines the story without giving too much away. I would be pleased if you could put her review on my website.

• Alison

  An insightful, very readable autobiography, which gives some understanding of the struggles involved with living with bipolar and what manic episodes involve. Shocking to hear of medical treatments in the 1980’s . The book pulls you along, always hoping for a happy ending.

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