Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

71 reviews

flugels's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence

layley's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Infertility, and Gaslighting

rubellaface's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Quick caveat: I do not have C-PTSD. I am a second-generation Filipino American who grew up to have high-functioning anxiety & depression due to tiger parenting, growing up Asian American, and being forced to become an alpha daughter. 

Reading this book triggered me and had me questioning my reality and how I’ve often laughed-off or disassociated my personal trauma in order to succeed in life (and therefore be perceived as being okay). Her coping mechanisms were/are my coping mechanisms, and funnily enough, I didn’t even realize they were coping mechanisms. So as Stephanie went down the rabbit hole of finding out what her bones know and how to fix it, I was right beside her– transfixed and checking my own bones for fissures and trauma from similar situations in my family life. 

Cause Stephanie Foo does not pull her punches when recounting her childhood. Every abusive situation is described in a way that is almost clinical and ripe for analyzing. Her book is basically an emotional autopsy of her trauma, and the way she uses her journalism background to thoroughly vet every single c-ptsd-related therapy is both thrilling and heartbreaking. As a reader, you want Stephanie to find a therapy that works for her and that can “cure” her, and I just wanted to hug her each time a practice or therapist failed her. 

Needless to say, I was emotionally invested in Stephanie’s book. I cried towards the end as she found stable ground and the tools to fight for her peace of mind. And I cried again at the similarities in how we approached our weddings and wedding guests. Her healing journey echoed and reaffirmed my own, and I will recommend this book to all my AAPI friends who I know have gone through sh*t and are trying their best.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

Very triggering. Sometimes in a good way.

kenrya's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, and Cursing

alexijai98's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Drug use, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

andreyuhh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Really great memoir about abuse and how it greatly affects your life. I cried a lot but enjoyed it immensely. It felt like a little part of me was healed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Mental illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders

kat_c_h's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

Although our traumas are significantly different, so much of Stephanies story resonates with me. Her avoidance of people due to her family trauma mirrors mine. Although this book is challenging to read, I am so grateful for this book. There is hope for healing trauma.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

lavaly_1's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Moving and brutally honest to her experiences. Captivated and immersed her narration and truly appreciate her transparency in her processes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Gaslighting

courtney_scott1025's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Wow. Never have I felt so seen and connected to someone's journey. I was diagnosed with CPTSD due to neglect/emotional abuse by my mother. Stephanie's life is much more traumatic than I will ever know, but it was so powerful. I couldn't stop listening. Her resilience, her story, her words were just so inspiring. If you think you have CPTSD, pick up this book. You will not regret it.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Self harm, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Colonisation, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

xoxochannychan's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

I think this book is a must read. The lessons herein can apply to anybody, not just those with a mental health diagnosis.  The themes are difficult and heavy for younger readers, but I'd recommend to any adult. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racism