Tormented Hopeis a book about mind and body, fear and hope, illness and imagination. It explores, in the stories of nine individuals, the relationship between mind and body as it is mediated by the experience, or simply the terror, of being ill. And in an intimate investigation of those nine lives, it shows how the mind can make a prison of the body, by distorting our sense of ourselves as physical beings. Healthy or unhealthy, robust or failing, ignored or obsessed over, our bodies respond daily to our shifting state of mind, whether we are aware of the process or not. This book is about an especially dramatic instance of that relationship- the mind's invention of physical disease. Through his witty, entertaining and often moving examinations of the lives of its nine subjects - James Boswell, Charlotte Brontë, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Daniel Paul Schreber, Marcel Proust, Alice James, Glenn Gould andAndy Warhol - Brian Dillon brilliantly unravels the tortuous connections between real and imagined illness, irrational fear and rational concern, anxiety and imagination, the mind's aches and the body's ideas.

When Hannah was a little girl, she was full of love. But she was born into a volatile family of drunks where sexual abuse, keeping secrets, and worse were the norm. In spite of all that, she felt an intense desire to survive and escape. Even though she suffered physical and emotional attacks, Hannah picked herself up every time and braced for the next outburst of family violence. She wanted nothing more than to leave her family to find love and kindness. However, she could not escape the darkness, and she'd try to kill herself in the third grade. The only thing she could see in her future was incest, beatings, and more attacks from the people she loved the most. At nine years old-at the brink of slipping into a downward spiral-she heard a voice that told her, "Write down your story. It is your inheritance." She listened to that voice. Join Hannah on her journey from her birth to age ten as she learns the difference between good and evil in the first book of Moral Combat.

Charlotte Brontë found in her illnesses, real and imagined, an escape from familial and social duties, and the perfect conditions for writing. The German jurist Daniel Paul Schreber believed his body was being colonized and transformed at the hands of God and doctors alike. Andy Warhol was terrified by disease and by the idea of disease. Glenn Gould claimed a friendly pat on his shoulder had destroyed his ability to play piano. And we all know someone who has trawled the Internet in solitude, seeking to pinpoint the source of his or her fantastical symptoms. The Hypochondriacs is a book about fear and hope, illness and imagination, despair and creativity. It explores, in the stories of nine individuals, the relationship between mind and body as it is mediated by the experience, or simply the terror, of being ill. And, in an intimate investigation of those lives, it shows how the mind can make a prison of the body by distorting our sense of ourselves as physical beings. Through witty, entertaining, and often moving examinations of the lives of these eminent hypochondriacs—James Boswell, Charlotte Brontë, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Alice James, Daniel Paul Schreber, Marcel Proust, Glenn Gould, and Andy Warhol—Brian Dillon brilliantly unravels the tortuous connections between real and imagined illness, irrational fear and rational concern, the mind's aches and the body's ideas.

Fear Worry Stress These emotions can overwhelm and consume us. They fill our minds with unanswerable questions. What will I lose…my health? my family? my job? my home? Will our lives ever be normal again? What is “normal”? We live in a sin-sick world. Catastrophes surround us, but we can surrender our fears to Jesus. He is the answer to overwhelming fears that consume our energy, rob our joy, and ruin our health. Fear is an emotion. Faith is an attitude, and focus is a choice. Fear must give way to faith as we adjust our focus. If our eyes are focused on the problem, fear will overcome us. If our eyes are fixed upon Jesus, the emotion of fear may still be present, but it will not cripple us. Fear will no longer dominate our lives. Discover with Pastor Mark Finley as he shows us that we have One who is larger than our fears, bigger than our worries, and greater than our anxieties by our side, and He has practical, down-to-earth, real solutions to our problems. We have the assurance of the One who said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Unraveling the Power of Obsessive Thoughts Dive into the complex world of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with this riveting narrative by acclaimed science writer, David Adam. The Man Who Couldn't Stop offers both a deep personal exploration of Adam's own twenty-year experience with OCD and an in-depth study of this widely misunderstood condition. Exquisitely balancing humor and urgency, this text is an unflinching look at how our neural networks can lead us astray, driving us towards obsession. The poignant examples provided throughout the book—from a schoolgirl eating a wall of her house piece by piece to a man dying under his household junk—highlight the extremes of OCD to an uninitiated reader. Bridging the gap between science, history, and memoir, this book explores the nature of intrusive thoughts, how they can transform into a blinding blizzard of unwanted perceptions, and the fine line when a harmless preoccupation morphs into compulsion. Serving as a haunting chronicle of personal torment, The Man Who Couldn't Stop brilliantly illuminates the darkest recesses of the human mind. Whether you’re a professional in the field of mental health, a student of psychology, or simply someone who seeks to understand more about the human condition, this book delivers an unforgettable, potent insight into the world of OCD and its implications.

Eddy is in a relationship that is crumbling around him. He starts to wonder if it is him that is the fault. He uses this time to reflect, to claw back and try to save against all odds the possibility that two people, himself and Beth-Annie can unite once more, just like they did at the beginning. During his personal search he delves into his past relationships. Thinks about where they went wrong. If he can use any of those failings to make this a success. He then aims to leave. Aims to try to get back on track by disconnecting. Just when he thinks he can do it, his life changes completely. He then starts a different journey. Different people get involved and he starts to look forwards, never back ever again, alone but not alone...

'Medicine and psychiatry, both based on science, require the art of caring, using the principles of art in learning and teaching. Sitting with a patient, making sense of their distress, being empathetic in understanding both the symptoms and the person and alleviating suffering needs a human touch. For that, doctors need the soul of an artist and must be aware of the value that arts have for society and the individual.' - from the Foreword by Dinesh Bhugra This comprehensive book explores how visual art, cinema, music, poetry, literature and drama can inform the teaching and practice of psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Edited and written by a team of expert practitioners, teachers and researchers, including both clinicians and users of mental health services, this comprehensive book will provide valuable insights for undergraduate and postgraduate educators with teaching reponsibilities in psychiatry and mental health. Students of the medical humanities, art, music and drama therapists, and educators in occupational therapy and psychology will also find this a valuable and insightful handbook. 'The authors of this wonderful handbook provide a convincing argument that the arts are good for what ails us. They have each used a preferred artistic medium to deepen personal reflection and to enhance their own creativity as physicians , teachers and therapists. Their models are clear, their suggestions practical, but none of the approaches you'll find here is reductive or simplistic. Try some of the reflective exercises and teaching strategies. You will be sure to rediscover something you have always cherished about the art of healing.' - from the Foreword by Allan D Peterkin