By Mary Widdifield and Elin Widdifield
Langdon Street Press
This collection includes candid stories from parents who have loved and lived with a family member who has a mental illness. They report their experiences with heartbreaking honesty and provide important information and resources for other families in similar circumstances.
The book is divided into three parts so readers can experience the process of seeking treatment, recovery, and coping with life. Included is a Parent Questionnaire to help understand and guide the journey.
Some of their advice includes suggestions to help alleviate the pain of integrating mental illness into our daily lives: be honest with yourself and your child, trust your gut, don’t be ashamed about a mental illness diagnosis, be informed, allow time and space for grieving, find a method for coping that best fits you and your family, don’t blame yourself or anyone else, and stay connected.
The Widdifields state, “Parents want only what is best for their child.” This compassionate book offers stories and resources that may help with the process.
