Blog Archives
Challenging the Paradigm
What Happened?: What Mental Health is Really About introduces readers to deeply moving tales of patients who have journeyed through tumultuous challenges and experienced remarkable recoveries. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wanted to challenge the prevailing ‘what’s wrong with you?’ paradigm that dominates psychiatry and psychology. Having just retired I think I wanted to ‘fire a parting shot’ at my profession.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
The book had been in my head for a while and with Covid occuring it was a great time to write! Apart from looking up the odd reference I knew most of the research supporting my position and most of the book is in fact case studies so they were more about recall than research. I spent about three months at a friend’s house by the ocean writing the book, with absolutely nothing to do but write.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Only one, get it done.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from What Happened?
I hope readers will ponder whether how we currently respond to mental health problems is the best response. I believe we have over medicalised and misunderstood the very nature of mental health.
But what if this is a hazardous and flawed paradigm? What if psychiatrists are inherently unable to reliably diagnose what ails you? Or, despite the listing of over 250 ‘mental illnesses’ in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, what if there are only eight different types of interventions available to treat this myriad of different ‘mental illnesses?’
Furthermore, what if you take pills that change your brain biochemistry, but the biological basis of all the purported ‘mental illnesses’ are unknown?
Could there be an alternative? And just maybe, are we being asked the wrong question?
With over 40 years as a practicing psychologist and educator, Dr. Bill Saunders takes us on an open, honest, heartfelt and sometimes confronting journey of human experience. In his book, Bill challenges some of the ‘truths’ we know about mental health, sharing real stories that will make you laugh and cry, and sometimes leave you in shock!
So, if you want to know what Mental Health is really about this is the book to read.
What Happened?
Mental health, a frequently discussed yet deeply misunderstood subject, is expertly explained by Dr. Bill Saunders in his book What Happened?: What Mental Health is Really About. With an academic background preceding his illustrious 40-year career in psychotherapy, Dr. Saunders deftly unpacks intricate topics ranging from the nuances of antidepressants to the impacts of childhood trauma.
The book introduces readers to deeply moving tales of patients who have journeyed through tumultuous challenges and experienced remarkable recoveries. These stories not only illuminate the resilience of the human spirit but also underscore the depths to which trauma can scar an individual.
One of the book’s most salient discussions is the deep and often devastating aftermath of childhood trauma. It underscores the tragic reality that a significant number of victims grappling with the shadows of their past do not receive the requisite support or intervention. The narrative brings to light the sometimes inadvertent negligence by caregivers, emphasizing the dire importance of attentiveness to a child’s emotional well-being to prevent unspeakable tragedies.
Dr. Saunders transcends the conventional therapist-client relationship, forming deep connections with his patients, guiding them through their healing journeys, and championing their pursuit of happiness. His insights provide invaluable lessons on human behavior, shedding light on the complexities and potentials inherent in the realm of psychology. This work challenged and reshaped many of my preconceived notions regarding mental health.
For anyone drawn to the intricate worlds of psychology, psychotherapy, and mental wellness, What Happened?: What Mental Health is Really About by Dr. Bill Saunders promises to be a compelling and enlightening exploration.
Pages: 235 | ASIN : B0946T6XVP
Outbreaks and Pandemics: The Life of a Disease Detective
Immerse yourself in the world of a ‘disease detective’ as we introduce Nicholas A. Daniels, author of the riveting memoir, Outbreaks and Pandemics. This unique memoir presents an absorbing narrative detailing Daniels’ journey into the field of medicine, commencing from his formative years.
In the book, Daniels paints a vivid picture of his upbringing, brought to life by the figure of his mother, a meticulous individual who instilled in him the importance of hygiene to prevent bacterial cross-contamination. He also unveils the realities of his less affluent neighborhood, highlighting the stark contrast between his life path and that of friends like Marty, who tragically found himself incarcerated for a serious crime. Nevertheless, these circumstances did not dissuade Daniels from pursuing his passion for medicine, a journey he shares through his experiences at Cornell University and the University of California.
A significant turning point in Daniels’ life emerged during his University of California tenure. An incident involving a medical student suffering from extreme fatigue and the subsequent adverse reaction to administered drugs served as an eye-opener. This event and the grueling medical residency lifestyle prompted Daniels to reevaluate his life choices.
Venturing further afield, Daniels embarks on a journey to Australia and engages with the Aboriginal communities, where he identifies common issues related to food contamination. This pattern repeats during his explorations in Caracas, Venezuela; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and Cape Town, South Africa. These experiences solidified his commitment to becoming a specialist in foodborne diseases and an advocate for cultural food safety.
The book also shares intriguing cases from Daniels’ residency, including a personal anecdote of his favorite juice causing kidney failures due to fecal contamination at the orchards of origin. The author underlines the significance of accurate analysis and diagnosis in preventing full-scale outbreaks and additional infections. He emphasizes the critical role of whistleblowers in foodborne infections, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the absence of a formal regulatory role for the CDC in food safety, Daniels contends that whistleblowers can play a crucial role in halting foodborne infections. For example, he posits that if whistleblowing had been adequately supported, the COVID-19 outbreak in China might have been better contained.
Throughout the memoir, Daniels consistently reminds readers of the importance of basic safety measures, such as hand washing before food preparation and consumption. Outbreaks and Pandemics presents a compelling and educational journey into the world of foodborne diseases without overwhelming the reader with dense medical terminology. Instead, this book promises to engage and inform, offering a unique perspective into a critically important field of study.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B0BPHVJD9F
Live Each Moment Meaningfully
The Long Tale Of Tears And Smile is more than just a memoir, it is the story of all those that came into your life.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing for me to write about in the book was my brother’s death.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
What changed my life is my interpretation of Robert Frost’s lines:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope that the reader will gain a new perspective on their health and lives and the value of living each moment meaningfully and to its fullest.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
This narrative-driven case study interweaves the stories of the patients Bitar has cared for with her own life stories; it reflects on how her patients’ lives and the stories of their survival or death inspired and changed her life starting and raising a family. Each patient’s approach to illness and end-of-life is as unique as they are, and each person’s journey contains unexpected lessons.
In the space between life and death, Bitar’s profession thrives; and in that space, she can search for the meaning of her existence.
The Long Tale of Tears and Smiles
Ranar Bitar’s The Long Tale of Tears and Smiles is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. It follows the author’s life from childhood to the present. As an oncologist and writer, she manages to do what many people struggle with – interweaving the scientific with artistic.
She talks of her early childhood vividly and beautifully, almost as a child would, effectively transporting us to that time of her life. Having grown up in Syria and moving to the US to practice medicine in her early twenties, her story is a unique one – one that explores both the “American dream” and the true meaning of home. In the book, we see her embrace multiple facets of her identity – the Syrian, the American, the physician, and the writer. Ultimately, it is hard not to empathize with her.
The true focus of this book isn’t Rana – it’s her patients. These are the people that pull us in like a magnet. They carry heavy burdens, many struggling with gut-wrenching cancer diagnoses, some even terminal. It is hard to read how they live and sometimes die. It forces readers to confront their own mortality and that of loved ones and their complex feelings about that.
Throughout the book, we see how Rana’s different patients have coped with illness over the years and what she has learned and given to them. We read of those who used talking or humor to fill awkward silences, those who sat still in the thick of silence, those who buried themselves in work and distractions, those who broke down in tears, and those who tried to bargain with death. To say it was unsettling is an understatement – it is like staring into an abyss that you have been trying to ignore your whole life.
However, the author does an excellent job of not making this story all about sadness and suffering. Instead, she challenges readers to defy death – to look it in the eye and refuse to give it our today. She challenges readers to live each day fully and to embrace the fact that the temporary nature of our lives is what makes them precious. By interweaving her personal story of love and loss with that of her patients, she brings us in and makes us feel like we are not alone, even in death.
The Long Tale of Tears and Smiles is a beautifully-written memoir book that will tug at the heartstrings like no other. So much so that it can make you cry of both anguish and joy.
Pages: 353 | ASIN : B09BG58KCY
LITERARY TITAN 