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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
Wow. I cried multiple times throughout this book because of how much I could relate. The author of this memoir suffers from C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) which is also something I suffer from. Even though I didn't experience abuse as a child, I did as an adult and our experiences with trying to cope, self-soothe, and navigate the world after that are very similar. I would recommend EVERYONE read this book, even if you don't suffer from C-PTSD or mental illness. It's eye-opening and it's something I wish people in my life would read for me, if they were willing, to better understand me. It also gave me hope and showed me how resilient and strong my trauma has made me. I have SO many quotes from this book that I love.
"Just because the wound doesn't hurt doesn't mean it's healed."
"Being healed isn't about feeling nothing. Being healed is about feeling the appropriate emotions at the appropriate times and still being able to come back to yourself."
I especially love this quote: "I no longer cower and crawl my way through this world. Now, I hitch my pack up. And as I wait for the beast to come, I dance."
"Just because the wound doesn't hurt doesn't mean it's healed."
"Being healed isn't about feeling nothing. Being healed is about feeling the appropriate emotions at the appropriate times and still being able to come back to yourself."
I especially love this quote: "I no longer cower and crawl my way through this world. Now, I hitch my pack up. And as I wait for the beast to come, I dance."
WOW. WOW. W O W. This was the most powerful, vulnerable piece of literature I’ve ever read. This book helped me come to terms with the fact that I suffer from C-PTSD. The stories she told about her upbringing made me take a look at my own childhood and gave me insight on estrangement from family members.
If you are in the mental health field, or have any amount of familial trauma, I implore you to read this. Take deep breaths, take breaks when needed, make sure you have a support system. It’s heavy but it’s so so worth it.
If you are in the mental health field, or have any amount of familial trauma, I implore you to read this. Take deep breaths, take breaks when needed, make sure you have a support system. It’s heavy but it’s so so worth it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Such an emotional read, and a book that, as I'm finishing it, I know that I had absolutely needed to read this. I could relate at several points, and found myself taking photos of various pages to reflect on some of what was written even more. As someone with endometriosis, it was also really interesting to learn more about the connection between childhood trauma (even when it's not sexual trauma) and endometriosis. I hadn't known of that connection previously.
I'm really glad that Stephanie Foo wrote this, and I'm really glad that I randomly stumbled upon it and decided to read it. Definitely an easy 5 stars.
I'm really glad that Stephanie Foo wrote this, and I'm really glad that I randomly stumbled upon it and decided to read it. Definitely an easy 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Car accident, Colonisation, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
“I wrung my body out like a towel, twisting both ends with red fists and sinking my teeth into it, gritting out ‘it’s fine its fine it’s fine,’ until one day, I woke up and there would be a new accolade on my shelf, a new accomplishment I could have never dreamed of, and then— finally— it would be fine. It’d be perfect. For that day. Or an hour. And then the tendrils of the dread started peeking into the corners of my vision. And I had to start all over again.” & “Resilience, according to the establishment, is not a degree of some indeterminable measure of inner peace. Resilience is instead synonymous with success.”