patients

"In 2010, human rights reporter Mac McClelland left Haiti after covering the devastation of the earthquake. Back home, she finds herself imagining vivid scenes of violence and can't sleep or stop crying. It becomes clear that she is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, triggered by her trip and seemingly exacerbated by her experiences in the other charged places she'd reported from. The bewilderment about this sudden loss of self-control is magnified by her feelings for Nico, a French soldier she met in Haiti who despite their brief connection seems to have found a place in her confused heart. With inspiring fearlessness, McClelland sets out to repair her broken psyche. Investigating her own illness and the history of PTSD, she discovers she is not alone: traumatic events have sweeping influence. While we most often connect it to veterans, PTSD is more often caused by other manner of trauma, and can even be contagious--close proximity to those afflicted can trigger it in those around them. As McClelland confronts the realities of her disorder, she learns to open her heart to the love that seems to have found her at an inopportune moment. Vivid, suspenseful, and intimate, Irritable Hearts is an unforgettable exploration of vulnerability and resilience, control and acceptance, and a compelling story of survival that expands the definition of what trauma is and offers powerful hope for those who need to work through it"--.

January 1988. Martin Pistorius, aged twelve, fell inexplicably sick. First he lost his voice and stopped eating. Then he slept constantly and shunned human contact. Doctors were mystified. Within eighteen months he was mute and wheelchair-bound. Martin's parents were told an unknown degenerative disease left him with the mind of a baby and less than two years to live. Martin was moved to care centers for severely disabled children. The stress and heartache shook his parents' marriage and their family to the core. Their boy was gone. Or so they thought. "Ghost Boy "is the heart-wrenching story of one boy's return to life through the power of love and faith. In these pages, readers see a parent's resilience, the consequences of misdiagnosis, abuse at the hands of cruel caretakers, and the unthinkable duration of Martin's mental alertness betrayed by his lifeless body. We also see a life reclaimed, a business created, and a new love kindled.

The author reflects on her fourteen-year battle with bulimia and anorexia, discussing how the eating disorders have affected her life from childhood through the present day.

The author describes her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome, argues that medical science is ignoring the plight of those suffering from the condition, as well as similar disorders such as Gulf War syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity, and examines issues surrounding these illnesses and their lack of treatments.

The author shares her experiences having to take care of her mother after the latter had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and describes how her feelings for her mother grew as the effects of the disease took its toll.

John Falk chronicles his battle with mental illness, the experiences he has had as a war reporter, and his own quest for happiness and fulfillment.

The author shares her experiences as a two-time breast cancer survivor, the support of her family and friends, and running in two 10K races.

The author presents the story of Michael, a young man who was able to succeed in spite of his autism, and discusses autism at the various stages of development.

Presents a personal memoir of the author's determination to understand adolescent depression and bipolar disorder in order to effectively help his own children overcome their own struggles with mental illness.