Beyond Schizophrenia: Michael's Journey

Susan Frances Dunham

Jan 2010 · Loving Healing Press

About this ebook

What would you do if your child suffered with something so severe it affected every aspect of his life?
Susie Dunham, Midwestern mom and former nurse, never suspected her son Michaelwas anything but a typical college student with big dreams until he developed schizophreniashortly after his 21st birthday. The Dunham family quickly becomes immersedin the nightmare world of mental illness in America: psychiatric wards, a seemingly indifferentnursing staff, and the trial-and-error world of psychotropic meds. Michael's ultimaterecovery and remission comes with plenty of traumatic incidents involving bothignorance and stigma, but his courage and quest for dignity will inspire all readers.
"Susie Dunham's heroic, heart-rending story is a beacon of light in the darkness of insanity.It shows that recovery is hard-won but possible for people who develop schizophrenia, despite a media that sensationalizes them, a society that shuns them, and adysfunctional mental healthcare system that fails them miserably."
--Patrick Tracey, author of "Stalking Irish Madness: Searching for the Roots of My Family's Schizophrenia"
"Every person in a leadership position needs to take the time to read this moving storyof triumph over adversity."
--State Representative John Adams, Ohio House Minority Whip
"The fact that Michael bravely fought this disease, picked up the pieces and moved beyondit, should give others hope that one day schizophrenia will be seen as a treatable diseasewith no stigma attached."
--Sharon Goldberg, News & Reviews Editor,"NYC Voices" A Journal for Mental Health Advocacy
""Beyond Schizophrenia: Michael's Journey" is a book that I couldn't put down. Thestory of Michael's parents Susie and Mark who support their son both in good times andbad really touched me. I really like the way the symptoms of schizophrenia are explainedclearly."
--Bill MacPhee, Founder/CEO of SZ Magazine
Learn more at www.SusieDunham.org
From the Reflections of America Series at Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com
PSY022050 Psychology: Psychopathology - Schizophrenia
BIO026000 Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs
MED105000 Medical / Psychiatry / General

Ratings and reviews

As long as I have been a Psychologist, I have always believed, as the author does, that we fear mental health issues because we don’t understand them. In this moving book Susan Dunham talks about the journey of her wonderful and talented son through schizophrenia. What started out to be a beautiful life with a brilliant son turned into a nightmare no parent should have to endure and neither should the individual who has encountered a mental health issue. Part of our problem, as the author states, is that we have healthcare providers who are not adequately trained in mental health issues; individuals are being misdiagnosed or over medicated. Then you have the media, which tosses around psychiatric terms like they were water; no wonder the general population is so confused. Mike was a wonderful, intelligent son who showed great promise in his life. He was funny, caring and a very sensitive young man. There were two things he wanted out of life- go to college and get into modeling/acting. However, his brain had other plans for him. It started with little unusual behaviors and then, when Susan and her husband Mark went away for five days, a whole new persona took over Mike. After many trips to the hospitals and doctors, Mike was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Susan does an excellent job of describing schizophrenia through her personal experiences and much research. She and Mark were at a loss for what to do – just when things seemed to get better, another issue would pop up. Susan, a nurse, did what most parent(s) would by asking: “Why didn’t I know the warning signs? How could I have stopped this? Why couldn’t it be me?” The problem is you can’t stop it – you can help things go smoother, but you can’t stop it. Through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Susan and Mark learned so much from other parents and professionals, along with reading many books on the subject. Family and friends provided additional support- emotional and physical, even when Susan didn’t want to tell anyone about Mike and what was going on. One of the things that Susan discusses is the lack of quality care in some psychiatric facilities. I see this all the time when I visit facilities – it seems as if the staff doesn’t care- medicate so they don’t bother you. They provide no information or support for families. However, this is not all places- we are getting better but we have a long way to go. Mike was a fighter. He didn’t let go even when he wanted to end it all; it took years, it wasn’t an overnight cure. Actually, there is no cure for schizophrenia. I loved the honesty in this book and the will to not give up regardless of what others said. Family members are often the only advocates for their loved one. What the author shares will say more about this illness than any textbook or class. If nothing else, readers will learn what it is truly like to live with someone who has a mental illness and have no control over anything. I applaud Susan and her husband Mark, and their son Mike, for their love, dedication and willingness to share this journey with readers. I would love to use “Beyond Schizophrenia: Michael’s Journey” as required reading for my online psychology classes that I teach. It is written with love – not to make readers feel sorry for the family, but to educate. If you can read one person (and I’m sure Susan has reached more) you have done a fantastic job. Listen to Live interview on Inside Scoop Live

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