There are some books you read that you just don’t know what to do with them. What do you say? How do review it? This is one of those books, and I’m frankly still not sure where this review is going to take me. I’m fairly certain that this is the first time I almost decided to not review the book at all. But, then I realized that this is my job, and this is what I’m supposed to be doing for my readers. The topic of PTS, or PTSD, is such a huge deal right now, which is the reason I chose this book. I know it may pop in the searches of spouses looking for books and resources on the topic. Ultimately that is why I decided to choose the book, as well as follow through with the review.
Has PTSD invaded your world?
Are you always walking on eggshells? Feel like nothing you do is right? Are you the victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse? Are you in a relationship with someone who suffers from PTSD? Then this book is a must-read for you. There is hope!
So many spouses of PTSD sufferers have the false belief that nobody can understand what they are going through. Believe me when I say, you are not alone. There are literally thousands of victims just like you. Facing the same issues everyday that you are facing.
This book is written for you, the spouse, to offer hope by giving you detailed knowledge of PTSD and Secondary PTSD and also offer you coping mechanisms for living in a world of PTSD.
What I Thought: I feel like this book set out meaning well. There was so much of me that was craving a good book about this very topic, from a spouse’s perspective. I wasn’t looking for some clinical book, but a REAL book. You know, something that said, “I know where you are coming from, and feel what you feel.” This book was terrible, and didn’t meet any of my expectations. It upsets me to speak so negatively about someone that has gone through something that I know is very real, but there are many reasons why this book just didn’t work. For one, the style in which the book was written was all over the place. It wasn’t written like a memoir, but wasn’t written in a clinical manner either. Part of the problem with the book is the writers own PTS, and secondary PTS. This caused the book to have an overtly angry tone that was very difficult to break through. I felt sad and depressed after reading it, not uplifted. It was so conflicting because I so wanted to find connection with this book. It just wasn’t there. However, despite all that there was one nugget within the pages that really struck a cord with me. At one point the writer spoke about viewing the treatment of the spouse, by the person suffering with the PTSD, as abuse. It was with that knowledge that she was able to protect herself and seek the help she needed. Now, it comes off weird. When a service member comes home with PTS, after experiencing the things he/she has, its not their fault. And while the author did a poor job of verbalizing it, by viewing the treatment as abusive (with the malicious intent that we see in abuse normally) she was able to better deal with what was happen. If it could have been explained in a better way, it would have been just the best part of the book.
Rating: One Star
disclaimer: I received this book in partnership with Booksneeze. I was not compensated in any other way, and am only asked to give my open and honest opinion. My thoughts and feelings are my own.
