Reviews tagging 'Racism'

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

150 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.

birbmcbirb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This is THE book I now recommend about C-PTSD. To both those with it, and those trying to understand it. I wasnt left drained and triggered like so many other CPTSD books, and Ms. Foo is a wonderful writer. I powdered through this book in 3 days, and it only took that long because I was busy each day. Any other mental health book would have left me triggered and burnt out, this book amazingly did not, but not because it pulled punches in talking about abuse and recovery. Im going to be so annoying about suggesting everyone reads this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Xenophobia and War

edeanreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation

clarewatts7's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

meganriner's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Colonisation, War, and 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, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, 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: 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

mangomerle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

desertash84's review

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

4.5

This is a beautifully complex book about the realities of childhood trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship