THE QUIT ROOM

 Kristen Lee Costa
he Quiet Room

A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness

Written by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett

Published by Warner Books, 1994

Lori Schiller, together with her practitioners and family present an intensive account of her personal struggle and recovery through schizophrenia. She reveals the torment of her illness, along with details of ultimately who and what helped deliver her from severe psychosis to stabilization. Amazingly, Lori goes on to take what she has learned to help out others.

This account has a strong impact since it provides a very personal viewpoint of schizophrenia. It reveals how life was turned upside down because of a very serious mental illness. There are many lessons in this extraordinary retelling of a long, hard-fought recovery process. It calls one to remember not to give up hope even in dire circumstances.

Some of the most outstanding passages include:

Dr. Jane Doller on schizophrenia: "...What is there in any human being's experience to prepare him or her to cope with a broken brain? Who can understand what a catastrophe this break is for the human soul? For the thing that has broken is the person's ability to relate to another person. The thing that breaks is whatever it is that connects people to their environment that allows them to recognize another person as someone outside of themselves".

Lori Schiller: "Many people helped me get to where I am now. Now it is my turn...If my life and experiences can help other people find their own ways out of darkness, I will know that I have not wasted the great gift I have been given: to begin life again..."

The Quiet Room is recommended because of its unique insight into an illness that often is misunderstood. The different perspectives offered in this selection allow the reader to understand the recovery course of a courageous woman, with her family, friends and practitioners. It demonstrates how even those who suffer greatly, can still take what they have learned and help others. The Quiet Room is definitely not light reading, but it is certainly worth picking up.

Kristen Lee Costa, LICSW is the founder of Helping Helpers, dedicated to providing life-changing resources for professional and personal development. Visithttp://www.helpinghelpers.com for access to innovative tools for therapists, teachers, nurses and those in helping professions. Kristen provides a clinical blog, called "Kristen's clog" with everyday stress management guidance. For the past decade, Ms. Costa has worked with numerous individuals, families and non-profit organizations to create positive change. A graduate of Boston University, Ms. Costa has raised over eight million dollars in grant funding within her community. Ms. Costa is an experienced speaker, writer and therapist with a passion for advocacy and education. Kristen speaks to professional and general audiences in a variety of settings. She is convincing, with her direct, warm, down-to-earth style and creative flare that allows audiences to enjoy learning. Titles include "Finding Balance in An Unbalanced World", "Is There a GPS for My Stress?", "Not a Bird, Not a Plane...SUPER-Vision", and "Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say: Grant Strategies That Work". Interactive, fine-tailored presentations are offered for each audience served. In addition to professional grant writing, Kristen's range of expertise includes composition of a variety of clinical resources for patients, speech and seminar writing, newspaper articles, and currently a book manuscript titled "Flung-Over: Overcoming The Intoxication Of Too Much To Think©" to be published. Kristen has appeared on local radio and provided community presentations to raise awareness surrounding emotional wellness. A lifelong New Englander, Kristen has many never-ending winters and fly-by summers under her belt. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband and children, who inspire and enrich her. Kristen's life mission is to encourage others to be HELPERS, and to equip them with innovative resources to help themselves and others better. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Lee_Costa