First published 2024
Mental health struggles have reached crisis levels according to CDC data, with depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, behavioral addictions, and suicide affecting more people than ever. Shame and hopelessness prevent many from seeking help. Claudia Black presents twenty-one personal accounts from graduates of The Meadows, a leading Arizona treatment facility. Each person tells their story in their own voice, tracing the roots of their problems, the downward spiral that brought them to treatment, and the healing process that followed. These narratives reveal how trauma typically underlies mental health and addiction issues. The stories demonstrate that recovery remains possible even in severe cases, offering readers the chance to recognize themselves in these experiences and find courage to seek help. Black collaborates with respected therapists including Resmaa Menakem, Peter Levine, Patrick Carnes, and Pia Mellody to provide clinical perspective on treatment approaches. The book aims to reduce stigma around mental health disorders and inspire hope for those who believe their situations are beyond help.
Genres: mental-health, addiction, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, recovery
Setting: Arizona, The Meadows
Period: 21st-century
304 pages · Paperback · Central Recovery Press
Content warnings: addiction, depression, mental-illness, suicide