Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

34 reviews

maddy4prezident's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

This was such a fast, informative book and it was so well written. So much so that I found myself recommending it to people before I even finished. Foo's narrative style is at once both rich with information and full of character and personality that makes it a fast, enjoyable read. Her willingness to be vulnerable and admit her own shortcomings while still focusing on a generally positive and hopeful arc made the book an excellent read. It invited reader to relate to Foo while also reflecting on their own experiences and applying the knowledge she imparts into the reader's own life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Self harm

yaelm's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Mental illness

alex1's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Racism, Bullying, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

danajoy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

5.0

An incredible memoir. Very moving.

 "It's ok to have some things you never get over"

This is confronting, especially in the first third when Stefanie outlines the abuse she sustained as a child that led to her development of C-PTSD.
What I really appreciate about this memoir was how open she is about her journey, especially with therapy.
 
I would recommend this to people who have read or attempted I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy. Both are centred around sustained child abuse but What My Bones Know looks at science and ways to heal and grow. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Minor: Incest and Pedophilia

alexisgarcia's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

wow, this is such a necessary read. while there are some dark personal moments, they are coupled with informative commentary. also, i really recommend the audiobook because their are audio clips from the authors therapy sessions which i thought added a lot. please check content warnings!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Bullying, Ableism, Alcohol, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

gabhopesreads's review against another edition

5.0

This is the best memoir I've ever read. It's so well-written, phenomenal on audio and one of my favorites this year so far. I loved the narration, plus the included audios of her therapy sessions. I loved how she went into details about history, hers and forgotten history, erased history. I loved how it felt like I was put under a microscope and dissected, but in actuality she was explaining her C-PTSD. At the end, the message of hope mirrored my own that I was lucky enough to find years ago. I wish I'd read this sooner, when I'd been drowning in my diagnosis. But the thing with C-PTSD is it's always there, so this will be helpful to read at any point in my life. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pandemic/Epidemic, Hate crime, Gun violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Racism, Grief, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Cultural appropriation, Child abuse, Car accident, and Bullying

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Self harm, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Car accident, and Addiction

vincci's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism

4leisurely_reading4's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Bullying, Child abuse, and Violence

provo's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Luckily, Stephanie Foo did not just write a memoir - as a journalist, she researches very well and takes the reader on a journey from her childhood to the first real results of her recovery. 
By doing so, she doesn’t try to paint a picture of a miracle healing, but shows, how hard it is to find individual solutions in a dysfunctional medical system where not enough professionals are familiar with this young diagnosis. She elaborates how racism and sexism play a part in c-ptsd and does not shy away from talking about genetics and intergenerational trauma.

At some points in the early chapters the abuse is written quite graphic, so be aware of that, otherwise I’d say it is the perfect book for someone recently diagnosed with c-ptsd or people who are close to someone with this diagnosis. It also has a lot of quotes for follow-up-literature.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Self harm, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Racism