Not Alone: A Parent's Guide to Navigating Mental Illness

By Sarah Magnoni and Karinna Klocko

This book is for those looking for information and hope in navigating serious mental illness with their child. As I found out in my own journey, this is a difficult path full of disappointment, disbelief, and grief. From being told "she's good to go" at the ER when in full blown psychosis to months of finding a psychiatrist that had av

• Language: English
• Publisher: Writing Brave Press
• Release date: Sep 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737563945

Book preview

Writing Brave Press

547 North Avenue, Suite #173

New Rochelle, NY 10801

www.writingbravepress.com

Distributed by IngramSpark

Copyright ©2021 by Sarah Magnoni

Disclaimer - The intent of the author is to offer information that will help you navigate the world of dealing with a loved one with psychosis or other mental distress. The author of this book is not a medical professional or attorney. None of the ideas, processes, or suggestions contained in this book constitute medical or legal advice. Nothing in this book is intended as a substitute for consulting with the appropriate medical or legal professional.

Your use of information in this book is at your own discretion and risk. If you decide to use any of the information in this book for yourself or your loved one, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for your actions, or for any loss or damage resulting from your use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages for review.

Cover and Text Design: Karinna Klocko

Copyeditor: Meghan Muldowney

Author Photo: Vania Elise

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-7375639-3-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-7375639-4-5 (ebook)

First Edition

This book is dedicated to

my incredibly brave daughter, Kai, who said,

we should tell people what we went through to help them.

Acknowledgments

Writing this book required me to revisit some of the hardest moments in my life. My sincere thanks to those that kept me going:

Jim, my husband, who has encouraged my writing for years and supports me in every little idea that I have, even when he doesn’t understand what I’m talking about. Your love and encouragement keep me going.

Kai, well, like dad said, I guess we needed a kid to get sick with schizophrenia before you finally wrote a book! Thank you for being you. Your beautiful energy and love for others inspires.

Morgan, you were my test during this process. I would send you parts of the book before anyone else so that I could get HONEST feedback, because we all know you tell it like it is. I love you!

Ty and Kenslie, thank you for being there for me during her illness for support and just to chat. I love you both sooo much!

Mom, dad, and Kyle, thanks for putting up with my updates, reading it before anyone else, and keeping the family chat fun. I love you.

Brooke! Brooke, without you there wouldn’t be a book. Thank you for being my writing coach, cheerleader, book organizer, editor… you name it you did it. But, most of all, thank you for giving me space when I felt like I was breaking down, couldn’t keep going, and wondered what I had gotten myself into. You are the best, absolute best!

Karinna, thank you for taking my story and creating a piece of art. I never could have imagined that the book would be so beautiful and represent my story so well. I am so thankful for you.

Brooke’s team, thank you so much for all of the edits, organization, keeping me on track, proofreading, and everything else that you contributed to in helping me get this book out into the world.

To all of my family, friends, colleagues, and coaches who continued to support me and believe in me, THANK YOU!

contents

foreword

introduction

warning signs

the harsh reality

assembling the team

family dynamics

hitting rock bottom

mental, emotional, & spiritual support

recovery

legal, organization, & future planning

advocacy

continued care

conclusion

resource list

Illustration done by: Kai

foreword

You probably picked up this book for help and to experience hope. I can tell you that you picked the right one!

This book is my mother’s perspective of the traumatic experience we shared seeking help for my serious mental illness. Yes, it’s me. I am the child that gave my mother issues and problems. What I went through wasn’t cancer; it wasn’t something that put me in the hospital for years. It wasn’t something as deadly as cancer, but to me, it felt just as serious. I had no hope and felt like I had no future.

Until reading this book, I didn’t realize what she went through, that she experienced something just as traumatic. Not only did I feel hopeless, she did too. Not only did I feel the waves of extreme anxiety pulse through me, but the waves also expanded to the outer