From The Shadows - Surviving The Depths Of Mental Health

  Insightful, Powerful, Though-Provoking

Genre: Memoir

From The Shadows - Surviving the Depths of Mental Illness by E Pauline Spurrell

When I spotted a post from the Author on Social Media, about this book, I immediately downloaded it to read. Having dealt with my own mental health issues (I find the term 'mental illness' difficult to equate with me, although it's undoubtedly accurate) for the last twenty seven years, I am always intrigued by other people's experiences, whether that be in written form, documentary or talking with someone, and the tools that they have put in place in the fight against it.

Choosing to record it in the form of a memoir as this Author has done is quite simply, in my opinion, braveness on another level:

1. I cannot imagine anyone being remotely interested in my tussels with 'The black dog', as I choose to call it, and...

2. Writing it down, would mean recalling certain memories, which takes great strength. Especially digging deep to discover what set you on a course to where you find yourself.

Pauline is very comprehensive in her approach to re-telling all that she has been through. She too recognizes that a sizeable quantity of her life was taken over by her decline in mental health, and that, as the sufferer looks back, it is devastating to have had that time taken from you, especially if you let yourself imagine how it could have been. This is also particularly true if it has been responsible for the loss of key elements and people. A point that is eloquently made and one that I can certainly relate to.

Her academic prowess and achievements, through the course of her education and within the workplace, are remarkable and extremely impressive given the many changes she was facing.

The Author talks about the effects of her illness on her relationship with her partner, who later became her husband, and the confrontations that her behaviour evoked. Me and my partner have definitely had similar stand-offs, although nothing quite as powerful as the shirt or the rocking chair incidents that she describes. I only deal with anxiety and depression, but also have a lot of physical problems which exacerbate the former. I also experience panic attacks. I have, however, known people who have faced the multitude of mental illness that Pauline has known, and I know first-hand, the effects it can have on the sufferer and those around them. Pauline is clearly a very strong woman with a good support network, the latter being so very important.

She mentions a couple of really good, useful quotes for when things get tough. One of which, I use regularly, as it calms me and helps me to realise that the situation that I am in will end. That quote is, 'This Too Shall Pass'. The quote new to me, and one that am taking away with me is 'Face It, Embrace It and Live Through It'.

Pauline quotes 'As a society we were not evolved enough to accept the dynamics of mental illness with the same understanding we afford physical illness'. I wonder whether, even to this day, if that has really changed. In my experience neither, mental nor physical illness qualifies a person for the guarantee of being understood. I think that we still have a long way to go, particularly when it comes to how those who have not been through any kind of psychological disorder, perceive and relate to those who have.

My thanks to Pauline, for an honest and insightful account, of such a prolonged life altering period. I am so glad that life is so much healthier for you now.