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Key Themes: abuse in care homes, whistle-blowing, failures of legal system, true story.Book Description and About the Author Eileen is one of the unsung heroines of our time. Years ago when I opened the first refuge in Chiswick, London in 1971, I was fighting to bring attention to the plight of victims of domestic violence. Nan was the oldest member of our community. She came to take refuge with us after a severe beating from her son. She died as a result of a frenzied attack from him when he was drunk. I was always aware of the level of abuse amongst the fragile elderly people in this country but the battle to even get the subject of domestic violence acknowledged amongst the powers that be in England meant that the plight of the elderly in this country slipped under the radar.Whistleblowers anywhere in the world have to recognise that they will always be met with derision and abuse. We all grow up with the nursery story of the little boy who pointed to the Emperor with no clothes I always imagined his mother took him off and washed out his mouth with soap. As a nation the English do not like anyone who 'makes a fuss,' and I met Eileen when she was already cleaning lavatories to make a living after she was roundly condemned and blackballed by a major Nursing Home provider for daring to criticise their methods of caring for the fragile, elderly patients.Eileen is an immensely courageous woman and this book is the story of her fight to gain recognition for the rights of the elderly community to be treated with respect and compassion. She tells the story of her brave and ferocious battle in such a way that the reader will be swept along and able to share her triumphs and the lows of what has become her life's mission. Her sense of humour never deserts her nor her archaic take on the pomposity of most of her enemies.It is chilling in these pages to read about the lengths people in power are willing to go to stop Eileen and her supporters trying to protect their charges. That a woman of her integrity and compassion should be black balled from the caring profession and forced to clean for a living is a terrible indictment of our society.I firmly believe that this book will reach a wide audience. All of us at one time or another will face the future care of our loved ones. Inevitably all of us will also look for caring as we reach an incapacitated old age. It is the Eileen's of this world who seek to make the changes needed.

About the AuthorShay is one of the top escorts in London. Born in a well off family, Shay went to Church affiliated school and then obtained her higher studies in the USA. She has a Masters degree in Management and worked in an Investment Bank for few years. Tired of long hours and number crunching Shay decided to change her lifestyle and obtained diploma in beauty and massage with a vision to involve more artistic elements in her life. At the same time she came out of a sour relationship giving her the opportunity to completely alter her life around. Shay decided to work for herself on her terms, as she embarked on a solo journey that led her to the unknown and often feared path of high class escorting. The new path, new place and new lifestyle had given her the daily hands-on enlightenment on complicated human psychology and varied physical desires. This was a line of living that could be quite glamorous yet dark and lonely at times but experiences can be used to learn the lesson on life through trial, strength of mind, laughter, and tears.Description In Shay's Book 'Make Love Not Dinner' we get the first hand sexual knowledge and life advice from an escort who made herself successful in the competitive London scene and been featured in TV documentaries. She has written the book based on her vast intimate experiences with men from around the world to realistically enhance people's sexuality as well as lifestyle in our modern busy world. The book also features top sexual fantasies that clients shared with Shay, with a touch of humour. It discusses her experiences to offer guidance and sex techniques to people to overcome low self esteem, ensuring dating success, reigniting long term relationships etc through self development and improved sexual performance. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, 'Make Love Not Dinner' will give you new ideas to play with.

Description A children's fantasy adventure; in an exciting quest to restore the vitality of the legendary Major Oak of Sherwood Forest and with it England's Heart and that of the planet.In a riddle as old as time, they follow a trail of clues and unravel secrets long lost to mankind.Hannah and Laura encounter a mysterious white hart (white stag) who charges them with their mission to restore the Great Oak. They meet up with new friends Megan and Haroun and together they set forth on an epic quest in search of the elusive Moon Rabbit and the elixir of life. They are also joined later on in this quest by their old friends Holy and Grace who travel in the world of dreams.It is a breathtaking tale of friendship and overcoming the odds. The story of how Haroun, a victim of bullying, found confidence in himself once more and selflessly helped his friends achieve their goal.A journey through mysterious worlds, where myths and legends become reality and reality is a whole new world.About the AuthorDavid's childhood days were spent immersed in books and in imaginary worlds of his own creation. He would secrete himself away and read for hours on end, unable to escape the fantastical world of the written word. He would write stories of his own, based on childhood adventures in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. Trips down the stream that ran by his house became journeys of adventure into lost worlds, following it through darkened woodlands and haunted churchyards. He never shared these writings with anyone but his boyhood friends who went on these treks with him.After leaving school he continued to write stories, but kept them to himself as his career in computing progressed. He made one exception, however, in that every Christmas in the spirit of M.R. James, he wrote a ghost story and recited it by the fireside.

Book Description & About the Author Trudy Marwick was born in South East London in 1965. She has spent most of her life living around London. Now living in Orkney and married to Malcolm and bringing up their children.Her childhood spent trying to catch up with her brother and avoid bullying at school; she drifted into Teacher Training College but left after 2 years. She trained and worked in Personnel but now spends most of her time doing local voluntary work. Following years of research into Disability - particularly Autism and Aspergers syndrome Trudy could see some similarities between her childhood and that of her son.Having been told at school that her stories lacked imagination, and were poorly put together, Trudy didn¿t feel confident about her writing. This is the first subject she has felt passionate enough about to overcome her fears of rejection and she wants her story to make a difference to others. Her insights into living with autism will be challenging and interesting to others who face diagnosis or who work alongside those with a diagnosis. Sometimes sharing the humour, sometimes the tears.Researching her son¿s diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder made Trudy face her own difficulties. She shares her journey of life¿s ups and downs living with autism.

Description This book tells the story of my battles within the mental health system over the last fourteen years. I have, from a psychiatrist's perspective, variously been diagnosed as hypomanic, schizophrenic, manic depressive and as having schizoaffective disorder - and in that order! But from my point of view (and as an ex-journalist I decided to investigate the mental health system from the inside out!), I have simply been on an extraordinary spiritual journey, meeting the spirits of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, meeting a spiritually persecuting Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, meeting the ancient queen Cleopatra herself, meeting the devilish spirit of Dr. Josef Goebbels, before penultimately having sex with the female angel Jana and finally meeting the fallen angel Lucifer himself! The book recounts the story of all the above, whilst also ending with a discussion and critique of contemporary psychiatry. I do not believe myself to have been mentally ill. I believe myself to be a visionary.About the AuthorMichael Black was born in 1962, and Angels, Cleopatra And Psychosis describes his life and spiritual experiences within the British mental health system over the past fifteen years. The book stands up for the legitimacy of so-called psychotic experience, and questions the validity of the received medical model. Michael grew up in Cheshire, where he attended Wilmslow Grammar School before doing an English and History degree at York University. He then completed a doctorate in anti-apartheid literature at Cambridge University, whilst variously working as a journalist and theatre producer.Michael is the author of one novel, Crossing Out The Emperor, and six stage plays. He has received three Arts Council Playwrights Bursaries, and is currently working on a new novel and two film scripts.The publication of Angels, Cleopatra And Psychosis is supported by Macclesfield Mind.

Description This story is about Aaron's adventures as a cannabis dealer as a young man and the progression through his life after realising the errors of his ways. Aaron spends years travelling the world, and finally ends up in a psychiatric ward diagnosed with schizophrenia. The latter part of Aaron's story is about his experiences and thoughts while under section in hospital and his attempts to get free, recover and return to work as a Gemmologist. Aaron ends the book with a fascinating chapter reflecting on his present thoughts drawn from experiences throughout his life, the NHS, doctors, neuroleptic and recreational drugs.About the AuthorAaron is 37 and now spends his time travelling the world looking for gem stones. In his early years he trained and worked as a stone mason but eventually got caught up in a world of recreational drug taking and trafficking. According to some doctors he started to experience depression, mild hallucinations and paranoid thoughts in his early 30's which led to schizophrenia. He has also suffered from toxic shock from different types of forced neuroleptic medications. Aaron was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2004 and won a tribunal hearing to get free from a psychiatric ward. Since and during his psychotic episodes Aaron has gained knowledge on the way mental health has affected his life, he begun to see his own ways to reinforce his mental state and that of others. By writing this book he hopes it will stand as a warning to others not to adopt the same path he took in his early days and to give his views of the world we live in as he sees it and through his own eyes.

Description This is a moving story of how an ordinary family learnt to cope with the incurable, debilitating and often terminal disease of Pancreatitis. The first symptoms appeared when Andrew was just fifteen and after 20 years he lost complete pancreatic function. This robbed him of his job, wife, home and self-respect.Often mistaken for an alcoholic or drug addict, it was a constant struggle to receive any help. He could 'live on the streets as homeless without detriment, the same as any other homeless person'. This resulted in deep depression, self-harm and several suicide attempts. There is no justice. About the AuthorLike many people, Brenda Prentice does not like to see injustice. When her adopted son, who was chronically ill with 20 years of Pancreatitis, became homeless, he was told he could 'live on the streets as homeless like any other homeless person'. There was no help from Social Services, the Housing Authority or some Medics. She took up the issues with the Healthcare Ombudsman, Local Government Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Ombudsman to no avail and after five years all denied any wrong doing. The way he was treated brought further mental health problems of depression, self harm and attempted suicide.

Description This book is the result of the pressures exerted in modern life, culminating in a mental breakdown and the six years recuperation process following that collapse.The book is an autobiographical account of a quest David set himself in search of the Celtic Holy Grail. David found relief from the clutches of depression and psychosis by immersing himself in what was originally a Celtic quest for the mythical land of 'Tir Tairngire' (Land of Promise); which he committed to paper as a form of therapy. It was during this quest that he stumbled backwards on the original source for the Holy Grail legend, firmly rooted in Celtic Mythology. For this purpose he considered himself an accidental Grail Knight seeking relief from psychological pressures and the elusive Holy Grail.The outcome of this is David's first groundbreaking book, 'The Celtic Holy Grail Quest'. It is more than just a book; it is a journey both physically and mentally in search of his personal Grail. It is full of adventure and insights that encapsulate the difficult subject of depression and psychosis. It is meant as an aid to those who also suffer from mental illnesses and as a genuine search for the Holy Grail. It is a tumultuous tale through a maelstrom of emotions, culminating in revelations leading to peace and happiness.It takes you on an exciting journey from David's original hometown of Nottingham, to various locations of historic significance in the UK; completing the journey in the West Midlands, visiting a host of European locations along the way, many of which are key elements to the Grail and the Celts.During the course of the book, there are codes to unravel, dreams to interpret and demons to be faced. Every chapter brings forth new and exciting material in the labyrinth that leads you into the book. There is also much humour throughout the book, although the subject is of a serious nature, there are many amusing episodes. These are included as part of the quest and also as a kind of therapy, for 'Laughter is good for the soul.'It is a mind-bending, soul-searching travelogue, a quest for a secret as old as time. A quest for healing; a story of the injuries inflicted on the modern mind and one man's battle to overcome his mental health problems.About the AuthorDavid's childhood days were spent immersed in books and in imaginary worlds of his own creation. He would secrete himself away and read for hours on end, unable to escape the fantastical world of the written word. He would write stories of his own, based on childhood adventures in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. Trips down the stream that ran by his house became journeys of adventure into lost worlds, following it through darkened woodlands and haunted churchyards. He never shared these writings with anyone but his boyhood friends who went on these treks with him.After leaving school he continued to write stories, but kept them to himself as his career in computing progressed. He made one exception, however, in that every Christmas in the spirit of M.R. James, he wrote a ghost story and recited it by the fireside.At the peak of his profession as a computer consultant, then working at major international London banks, David had a breakdown. It was during the next six years of his life, now plagued by mental illness that David took to writing again. The result of this is David's first groundbreaking book, 'The Celtic Holy Grail Quest'. David is also a published poet.

Description This is Willmott's second book and it takes the form of a diary. Whilst dealing with the difficult experiences and questions laid down in his first book, Willmott's latest book is infused with dark humour throughout.Get ready to cry and get ready to laugh out loud. We can all see ourselves in this work and that is what makes Willmott such a talented writer.About the Author David Wilmott was born in 1956, to a catholic family. One of seven children, he grew up in Bedfordshire. At the age of thirteen David left school to train as a priest in St. Albans. David was an exceptional footballer and was expected to become a professional but instead he opted to take up the hippy lifestyle.David became addicted to amphetamine at an early age and was admitted to an institution at the age of 16 after overdosing, David subsequently spent much of his teens in and out of hospitals as he battled his addiction. During this time David almost died from Hepatitis B and suffered many overdoses. Having conquered his addictions in his twenties, David worked in various sales positions before setting up his own business, a recording studio, in an old hat factory in Luton! After the eventual failure of his business (due to a series of burglaries) and his divorce David suffered a breakdown and became addicted to prescription tranquilisers. He eventually moved to live with his parents in Kendal where, after one suicide attempt, he met his second wife. His second marriage also ended in divorce under the strain of his depression.David now lives next-door to his wife and six of his eight children. Currently David is unable to work, has no appetite or energy and suffers from extreme mood swings. David has lost all faith in adults and as he puts it 'society's (post Thatcher) shallow and sad vested interests and general greed for all things' he hoped his first book would help people to understand that life is not all about attainment and fulfilment through greed, thus helping to right some of society's wrongs. This is his second book.

Description He was born with a hole in his soul.A hole that rendered him vulnerable and weak. A hole that made him constantly search for the unattainable. A search that would prove deadly and leave him, early in his life, emotionally, financially and physically crippled.With better understanding, an earlier diagnosis and different treatment perhaps his and many other souls could have been saved.Hole in my Soul is a collection of short poetic stories that tell of the devastating effects and consequences of his illness. It asks questions of society and its leaders, so corrupted by large corporations, that it treats disease, conflict and poverty with such ignorance and disdain.Hole in my Soul is a rallying call that exposes the ills of modern society and encourages readers to rise up and pressurise for a change in priorities that will better serve the global community.About the AuthorSimon Russell was born in 1959 in South London.The youngest of four children in a middle class family he was privately educated and until his illness overwhelmed him in his early thirties he had a highly paid and rewarding career as managing director of several well known brands, a wonderful home and a loving and supportive family.Inexplicably and piece by piece over an agonising and frightening 15 year period this all evaporated. In the latter stages the pace quickened with periods of mania, madness and hospitalisation.He has now turned to writing in an effort to rebuild his own life and to draw attention to the issues of mental illness. In particular to improve public understanding, to encourage early diagnosis and to increase funding into research so as to identify more successful treatment.Simon would welcome any comments on his work.

Description I began writing with the intention of making sense of my story for myself, but, at its conclusion, I also believe it may have a value to others. In particular, it may be of worth to others OCD sufferers. I know I found such books helpful in the past. The fact I demonstrably show meaning to have been underlying my symptoms, which I was able to comprehend & overcome, may also be a message others with OCD would find of interest. In the professional sphere, counsellors & psychotherapists may be challenged by the extent of my self-analysis, which draws it's inspiration from Freud's "On the interpretation of dreams".About the AuthorDavid Scotford suffered OCD in his teens and twenties but by the age of 30, through much hard work and self-analysis, had come to a greater understanding of himself and a lessening of his symptoms. He hopes that what he has learnt can be of value to other sufferers and to the therapeutic professions.

Description Leigh Earle once told me that I should write a book, a comment on my lengthy letters. Yes, yes well someone must suffer. How well would everyone like to read ''Letters To Leigh'' which may soothe in a world that is tearing you apart. What is the state of your heart which once may have been so large? Robert Nix has through consequence of chance and circumstance beyond his control lived a life of treasure and desolation and is as of now offering solace to other persons who just cannot figure their life out but cannot let those thoughts from their minds; whatsoever they may be, they are real. Robert Nix offers his soothing poetic experience to you.About the Author It may be considered a curious attribute of men and women to express and share their pain. There may be those who do not translate their pain well into modes that others could be accustomed to among the observing public. Pain may be considered to be private and once a person entrust their pain to another persons care there will invariably be mistranslation.I was happily born on July 21, 1964 from the womb of a woman named Emily Sue Medlock who was married to Robert Sherman Nix, Jr.; I was a child knight. Luna to some is a light.

Description This is who I thought I would be. I knew I would be able to write a small book after my second breakdown, but I am not very good at wording things, but I have tried my best. These false beliefs went on until my fifth breakdown. I am not a nutter and I am not mad I just wanted to share my experiences with people that have had similar experiences in life. By writing this book I thought I would find out where the King of Scotland really came from and put an end to all these false beliefs. I have been through a long and painful journey having Bi-Polar Disorder, then being wrongly diagnosed more than once then being back to Bi-Polar Disorder again. I have had five nervous breakdowns since 1995 and lost my family and friends, it took me two years after my breakdown to regain my confidence again and get my life back together. After drinking heavily in the past and suicide attempts and over spending money. I never thought I would get married again and have a new family and friends. I hope the experiences that I have shared with you will be helpful to fellow service users, professionals and people out in the community. To help with the stigma of mental health. I want people to understand more about mental health problems.About the Author Born on the 21 of October 1961,in a place called Kilwinning in Scotland. Two years later my parents wanted a fresh start in England to a place called Thringstone on the Scottish estate, in a two bedroom flat. In 1971 my parents separated, a few years later I left school with no qualifications and got a job working for British coal at Snibston Colliery. In 1985 I got married and three years later we had a daughter, in 1993 I took redundancy I was out of work for a year then I started drinking heavy in 1994 a got a job with a local firm I started to feel unwell and in January1995 I was taken into Carlton Hayes Hospital with my first nervous breakdown at the age of thirty three, My marriage lasted nearly ten years then we separated since then I have had another four breakdowns in that time in and out my Bi-polar episodes I've done eleven years voluntary work I first started with the Befriending Scheme for seven years and then went onto The Peoples Forum and that's were I started for Leicestershire partnership trust, so now I go onto the wards every two weeks and listen and try and help other service users. Then I put in for peer advocacy worker for lamp and got the job then went on a course for seven weeks then on the twenty eighth of February 2008 I got my certificate of achievement for successfully completing the peer advocacy training course my life couldn't get any better I feel like I am putting something back and helping people who have been in the same situation as me. Now I am on the wards at the Bradgate unit twice a week for two hours it will be a journey for me.

Description African Caribbeans are 44% more likely to be sectioned, 29% more likely to be forcibly restrained, 50% more likely to be placed in seclusion, and make up 30% of in-patients on medium secure psychiatric wards.This is the stark reality of the African Caribbean experience of mental health in the UK, one which is comparable to the mental health system in South Africa during apartheid, according to Lee Jasper, Chair of the African Caribbean Mental Health Commission.Combining anecdotal evidence from African Caribbean service users and the opinions of African Caribbean mental health professionals, Crisis in the Community explores the reasons behind the disproportionate rates of mental health among a community that comprises only 1% of the country's population. It recounts in full the tragic death of David Bennett at the Norvic Clinic in 1998 and the subsequent independent inquiry which identified institutional racism within mental health services. And it looks at what is being done - and what still needs to be done - to break the culture of fear and mistrust among African Caribbeans towards the mental health system.About the AuthorDavid Burke is from Mullingar in Ireland and has been living in the UK since 1990. As a journalist he contributes regularly to Rock'n'Reel and Mental Health Today magazines, and works as a Subtitler with Red Bee Media. Married to Shirley, he has a son, Dylan, and stepdaughter, Francesca.

Description This is Barbara Goulden's first novel and she hopes it injects a refreshing dose of humour into the serious business of mental illness. She knows from personal experience what a tremendous support the families and friends of sufferers can be to each other. But perhaps few people appreciate the help patients and ex-patients can also be to one another. Especially those living in the sort of rehabilitation house featured in Knock Knock, Who's There?The kind of place nobody wants in their neighbourhood....About the AuthorBarbara Goulden has worked as a journalist on weekly and evening newspapers for most of the past 35 years.She still remembers the sense of relief she felt after finally being given a name for the condition which was creating such mystifying and upsetting thought patterns in a close relative. Even though the diagnosis of schizophrenia probably helped Barbara more than the relative who was actually doing battle with the illness, at least it was a starting point for gaining some understanding.She went on to join the National Schizophrenia Fellowship - now Rethink - and became one of the founding members of the Coventry group.

Description This book is a collection of poetry and prose, of seriousness and wit, of raw emotion and considered debate.The book is designed to show to the reader what it is like to live with problems of mental health; how people with problems like this can be treated unfairly and with prejudice by those around them, and how that prejudice can affect the sufferer in the long term. Essentially the book is trying to make the reader think, and educate them in what living with mental health problems can be like. The book also tries to change the way the uninitiated think about mental health problems. About the AuthorFor some years now Anthony Fairweather has been writing poetry about his complex and varied experiences, both of illness and of other people, and he has been performing them in front of audiences at local poetry groups in the Hampshire area. These groups include the Salisbury Poetry Café, the Hanger Farm Poets corner in Totton, and the Test Valley Poets meetings each month. He has also performed further afield in Birmingham but this is his first published work which includes both poetry and other reflections.

Description "I am not a poet I just write. These pieces are a collection of my musings and it is the first time that I am publishing my writing without drawings, photos or paintings to accompany the words. This is very scary since I see myself primarily as an artist but these pieces are about the soul, life, s**t, rubbish, beauty, love, hate, mental confusion, light and darkness. You might wonder if they are autobiographical but I will remain mute regarding that detail since I have a fervent imagination and what is truth anyway?Something very dubious if you ask me. Just read and see where the words take you."About the AuthorSanchita Islam is an artist, writer and filmmaker. She completed her BSc (econ) and MSc (econ) at the London School of Economics before embarking on a Channel 4 sponsored MA at the Northern Media School in Directing and Screenwriting, and a BA in the Practice and Theory of Visual Art at Chelsea School of Art and Design. Islam has exhibited and screened her films in London, New York, Paris, Bangladesh, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt. She has filmed in New York, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cuba, Barcelona and Miami for the production of her fifteen films to date. Islam's films and five books have been funded by the Arts Council, BBC and British Council. These include 'From Briarwood to Barishal to Brick Lane,' 'Old Meets Young,' 'Hidden,' 'Connecting Kids' and 'Avenues'. Islam is currently artist in residence at Artscape and has been running Pigment Explosion, an organisation specialising in international art projects, for the last nine years. She has many publications with Chipmunka.

Description This selection of novellas and short stories is a hodge-podge of tales depicting the trials and triumphs of the human spirit. From fantasy to humour to the avant-garde, Bauder serves the reader with thought provoking stories.About the AuthorGreg Bauder has had schizophrenia for 30 years. His poems, stories, plays, reviews and articles have been published in many magazines, and he has written three novels about schizophrenia. He lives in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

Description Putting thoughts together leads you on a trail of musing on past life, of finding that the present lifestyle was very much in evidence in ones upbringing. How My childhood seemed to make Me into the person I am today, and a description of some of the activities I enjoy being a Professional Mistress.About the AuthorA lover of all things different, be it lifestyle or materialistic, mildly eccentric or just pure strange sometimes. Loving all that life throws, the good and the bad. A mother and bad grandmother, but a good friend and confidant. Enjoying an alternative lifestyle, ie, the benefits of owning slaves, and enjoying My work.

Description Elisabeth's book is written to help those caught up in obsessive spiritual sects and guru movements. Recounting the extraordinary events of a long life filled with great joys and harrowing griefs, Elisabeth generously traces her soul journey of awakening for the benefit and inspiration of others. After describing her almost idyllic childhood, she covers the circumstances that led to marriage and - despite her best intentions towards her family - to permanent separation from husband and children, and virtual incarceration and domination within a religious cult. She relates how a virtually unknown James Bond figure snatched her away, and how they set up a new and happy life together before further vicissitude struck. Animating the whole is the spirit of her endearing personality and indomitable perseverance; a truly inspiring book. About the AuthorElisabeth Fraser had a lengthy career as a sales manager, editor and author for Jarrold Publishing. She is author of An Illustrated History of Scotland (1997) and has edited a number of other titles. Elisabeth has been interested in spirituality for most of her life, and is now very involved in the Tibetan Buddhist field helping to promote talks and lectures from eminent Tibetan lamas and doctors in liaison with the monastery at Samye Ling. She is based in Edinburgh.

About the AuthorMickie R. Singer is a writer, teacher, artist, storyteller and poet, depending on her mood or the angle of the sun. Haunted by a lifetime awareness that there was "something wrong," she was over forty before her multiple mental illnesses were diagnosed. With Bi-Polar, Panic, Anxiety, Attention Deficit, Obsessive Compulsive and the more recently acquired Adjustment Disorder, she sometimes has limited ability to cope.Description But in spite - and because - of these conditions, Mickie has lived a full, intriguing and often fun-filled life. She is an eccentric and humorous person who enjoys the adventures of living even though the ravages of mental illness are a constant threat and have, at times, shut her down. This book is an account of all her experiences - some amazing, some amusing and some disastrous. A former education director for the Mental Health Association of York County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a mentally ill mother and an active mental health advocate, she is both personally and professionally knowledgable about the nature of mental illness. To affirm that a mentally ill individual can keep their spirit even when "the black hole yawns" is the inspiring intention of her book; to speak out against the stigma surrounding mental illness is her lifetime goal.