I think I’ll let the description speak for itself:
All That Can Be Shaken by Essie Collins (a pseudonym) is a moving true story of a family’s struggle with a tragedy that shakes their lives and their faith. Essie’s idyllic life is torn apart when her once joyful and exuberant husband, Stephen, is stricken with a deep depression. His suicidal tendencies force Essie to seek professional help. After shock treatment and a barrage of medications, Stephen becomes severely mentally ill, diagnosed as bi-polar and schizophrenic. Essie’s story will take you through the horrors her family endures as they become prey to a society that is largely unsympathetic and unequipped to help.
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on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under New Books.
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October 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
I am a retired nurse and reading this book. Even though I have only just finished episode 6, I want to let you all know that this is a FANTASTIC story.
I am writing also to ask that the author consider making this book available, for sale or free, authors choice, to any support groups for spouse’s of mentally ill people. I think this book would be an IMMENSE source of consolation and help to so many.
I applaud the author for her courage in dealing with what happened to her husband, herself and her son. I also applaud her for the courage it took to write this book.
Thanks so much Essie.
October 25th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I really tried to give this book a good shot and listen to several episodes. In the end though I had to give up and delete the entire thing. I couldn’t bear to listen to the author continue to repeatedly and consistently make poor decisions.
It was clear from very early in the book that her husband had serious mental health problems. Her solution was to give him post-it notes with scripture, seriously! I found listening to her make awful, ignorant decisions based on her “faith” too trying on my sanity to be good for me.
Maybe it gets better towards the end, but the first two to three episodes were enough for me.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Dottie,
Thank you for your words of encouragement. The book has been published but regrettfully, the publisher has horribly overpriced it. We still retain the audio rights, so Podiobooks gives me the opportunity to share the story to as many as who want to read it, without cost. For that, I am very grateful. May God bless you.
“Essie”
October 25th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Chris,
In the introduction, I made it clear that the story would be told from the perspective of my faith. Since my faith obviously bothers you, I wonder why you would continue listening to my story in the first place.
I am also interested in how you determined from “very early in the book” that my husband had “serious mental health problems,” since the early part of the book tells of how idyllic our lives were. My husband appeared to be normal in every way for the first thirteen years of our marriage. His initial depression was triggered by incidents that would depress anyone.
At any rate, I think I honestly shared throughout my book, my uncertainty as to how to deal with my husband’s illness. I admitted that I was working from a belief system that conflicts with the traditional mental health professionals. I am curious as to whether you are a mental health professional and how you would have dealt with my situation. Had you continued to hear the story, you would have known that I did turn my husband’s illness over to the mental health professionals. They proceeded to make an even worse mess of things and their irresponsibility helped destroy our lives.
I am sorry you didn’t finish hearing the whole story. It is typical of human nature, to be critical of others when one is not in their shoes. Regardless of one’s own possible experience with suicidal loved ones, or one’s possible knowledge of mental health issues, no one can ever be in my exact position and I think it is foolish to judge others from one’s own limited perspective.
Nevertheless, I thank you for trying to listen and I pray that you will be blessed as you continue with your life.
“Essie”
November 24th, 2010 at 8:59 am
I also am not a Christian, but I did enjoy this book. Yes, sometimes the religous comparisons got a bit heavy handed, but if you can see accept that this is a par of the book, you’ll see that Essie has a valuable story to tell.
Essie, thank you for sharing this with all of us.
November 24th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Thank you, Dariclone.
I am grateful that you were able to get beyond our religious differences and focus on the other issues covered in my story.
May your life be blessed with peace and joy and hope.