Dr. Lisa Myers talks about one of the most heartbreaking moments a person could ever encounter in their life, and that is of a missing relative. As she describes in her book, When the Light Goes Out, Dr. Myers describes the panic, horrific and painful experience that she had to go through, the constant anxiety and state of not knowing, and the insecurity and trauma relatives of missing people go through.

Through these periods, when a person is in a hyper state of awareness, relationships with the people around are affected, as Lisa’s was. My heart broke when Lisa told her mother and her children the news. Additionally, her father’s death was even more devastating since it was plagued with so much violence and heartache.

This book narrates Lisa’s life-changing loss and how this affected her mental health. It shows emotional suffering and psychological pain that scar someone for life. It offers ways to cope with such a brutal loss within a community.

This book goes from chapter to chapter, with the first part describing immense pain and suffering and how this disrupted their lives. The second part describes healing and comfort in coping with Lisa’s loss. Finally, it neutralizes the shame and stigma that Lisa’s mental health brought up.

When the Light Goes Out is a painful and emotional memoir, but it is also inspiring. The strength that is within people when moments like this strike is shown in how she handles the trauma. This book can be wrapped up in a sentence from her book, “In all moments of darkness, we can find the light of meaning.” As someone who is a fan of emotional true stories, I highly recommend this book. But please remember to carry your tissues when reading the book!

Pages: 272 | ASIN : B0BG9CV2QS