Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

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

34 reviews

rubellaface's review

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

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

Very triggering. Sometimes in a good way.

alexijai98's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

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

xoxochannychan's review

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

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racism

madisongturner's review against another edition

3.75

I think this is a great alternative to some popular books on how PTSD can affect our bodies. It feels incredibly personal, but I'm thankful for the author letting us into their life through such an intimate retelling. I related to a lot as someone with chronic illness and trauma, but specifically this really helped me understand those I love who have C-PTSD. 

Definitely make sure you read content warnings before reading! While I know this is realistic because it is a retelling of the author's experiences, it can be a bit shocking to listen-especially if you resonate with some of the experiences. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

maddy4prezident's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

This was such a fast, informative book and it was so well written. So much so that I found myself recommending it to people before I even finished. Foo's narrative style is at once both rich with information and full of character and personality that makes it a fast, enjoyable read. Her willingness to be vulnerable and admit her own shortcomings while still focusing on a generally positive and hopeful arc made the book an excellent read. It invited reader to relate to Foo while also reflecting on their own experiences and applying the knowledge she imparts into the reader's own life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Grief, Alcohol, and Colonisation

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

decie's review

challenging reflective sad

3.0

so.......mixed feelings. there were brief snippets of saneism throughout the book, which I didn't love. for example - the outdated (incorrect and stigmatizing) way the author explained DID was not great. and then later in the book she literally said cptsd is the only diagnosis that is caused by other people/isn't your fault, unlike [list of highly stigmatized conditions that are literally also caused by trauma]. 

I did like a lot of things she did in this book. rly struggling to rate it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

emileesmith's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Suicide, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ohmyhazz's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts