Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

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

66 reviews

jburkespraker's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Not sure what to add as a trigger warning because there a so many. I loved the short chapters and the way she pulls the audio recordings in at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

lestatsoul's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, and Abandonment

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Colonisation

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

yaelm's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

alex1's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

danajoy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

5.0

An incredible memoir. Very moving.

 "It's ok to have some things you never get over"

This is confronting, especially in the first third when Stefanie outlines the abuse she sustained as a child that led to her development of C-PTSD.
What I really appreciate about this memoir was how open she is about her journey, especially with therapy.
 
I would recommend this to people who have read or attempted I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy. Both are centred around sustained child abuse but What My Bones Know looks at science and ways to heal and grow. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Minor: Incest and Pedophilia

alexisgarcia's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

wow, this is such a necessary read. while there are some dark personal moments, they are coupled with informative commentary. also, i really recommend the audiobook because their are audio clips from the authors therapy sessions which i thought added a lot. please check content warnings!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

gabhopesreads's review against another edition

5.0

This is the best memoir I've ever read. It's so well-written, phenomenal on audio and one of my favorites this year so far. I loved the narration, plus the included audios of her therapy sessions. I loved how she went into details about history, hers and forgotten history, erased history. I loved how it felt like I was put under a microscope and dissected, but in actuality she was explaining her C-PTSD. At the end, the message of hope mirrored my own that I was lucky enough to find years ago. I wish I'd read this sooner, when I'd been drowning in my diagnosis. But the thing with C-PTSD is it's always there, so this will be helpful to read at any point in my life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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