Defying Mental Illness 2014 Edition: Finding Recovery with Community Resources and Family Support

Paul Komarek · Andrea Schroer

Dec 2013 · Church Basement Press

About this ebook

Imagine a book that accomplishes for mental illness what the Big Book did for sober recovery. Defying Mental Illness makes mental health disorders and treatment understandable. It takes the fear and mystery out of mental illness along with the technical jargon. This approach keeps people focused on recovery, which is more about finding a way to move forward than it is about the diagnosis. The book helps people with symptoms and family members collaborate and support each other.

Simply written, consensus-based, positive and complete, the book covers schizophrenia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood mental illness, suicide prevention and more. The book builds recovery with strengths that endure despite the presence of symptoms. It's what a person needs to know to get started with recovery, what family members need to know to support recovery, and what faith-based and community groups need to know to help the people they serve.

Revised and updated for 2014. The 2014 edition includes updated material on healthcare system strategies, suicide prevention, violence prevention, as well as expanded coverage of addiction. 

What others are saying about Defying Mental Illness

• "Defying Mental Illness provides what's needed most: a lucid and more than adequate introduction to mental illness." -- NAMI E-Advocate
• "As a practicing psychologist I am very impressed with Defying Mental Illness. We have too few books on the market that really take the sting out of what can be a frightening situation . . . I like the fact that the book is such an easy read and yet so complete. Every resource facility out there, including police stations, schools, doctor's offices, community centers, etc. should have this book in their library or easily accessible in a waiting room, a shelf in an interviewer's office, etc." -- Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
• A Top 20 Book for Parents and Teachers of Children with Special Needs "It is easy to understand and complete so it is suitable for people in recovery, caregivers, faith-based, church and community outreach workers who work in mental health. Readers will appreciate the chapters on finding treatment, paying for mental health care, housing, employment and disability, involuntary hospitalization, the criminal justice system, and links to allies and advocacy groups. The case studies describing a few journeys towards recovery bring hope to the readers." -- Lorna D'Entremont, Special Needs Book Review

The first section helps people understand what they are facing. It includes brief descriptions of mental illness symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, mood swings and other behavior changes, and describes major mental health disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. The authors use a developmental approach to childhood mental illness, contrasting ordinary childhood patterns with the extreme symptoms that may require intervention. The book suggests using benign, safe parenting techniques that improve structure and reduce stress, and supports a thoughtful approach to initiating treatment. Also covered are developmental disabilities like autism and fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as special education, including individualized education plans (IEPs) and so-called 504 plans. A chapter on treatment discusses therapy and medication, offering brief notes on various categories of medication. The book emphasizes the need to understand risks and benefits when deciding about any course of treatment.

Subsequent sections focus on locating allies to promote recovery, finding resources to support recovery, planning both long-term and short-term, and following the recovery plan. The authors discuss planning for safety in advance of a mental health crisis, responding to a person in crisis, assessing risk of violence, and preventing suicide. The book suggests ways to help people who become involved in the criminal justice system, and covers involuntary hospitalization and guardianship. Further chapters discuss ways to locate treatment, find or retain housing, maintain employment or access vocational rehabilitation services. There is coverage of Social Security and SSI disability benefits and claims process, plus information about Medicare and Medicaid.

Ratings and reviews

As someone with borderline personality disorder, PTSD, bipolar 2, agoraphobia, and panic attack disorder I am very grateful for this resource. The price is outstanding.

About the author

Paul Komarek is an author and consultant with a comeback story. After bipolar disorder wiped out his legal career, Paul rebuilt his life around his strengths as a writer, teacher and policy expert. He works on tough social issues, including criminal justice reform, education of children with disabilities, violence prevention, addiction treatment, and health care for the poor. Andrea Schroer is a teacher and educational consultant who assists schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses in reaching self-sufficiency through recommendations and training in the areas of tutoring, after school programming, and child care licensure.