"Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review."
Compelling story reveals the rocky path to recovery from Munchausen Syndrome
Andrea Avigal grew up in a terrifying home. Her father was vicious and sociopathic. He ruled and dominated what happened in their home. The only thought she remembers is survival, as her father alternated between brutally beating her mother and raping Andrea at night while her mother slept on the couch.
As a child she felt unloved and lived in constant fear. As she grew older, the pain and emptiness that remained inside lead her into therapy several times, but she never stayed long enough to work through her childhood trauma. She met a kind man and married, and had three children. For a while, she was able to pretend to be normal.
But then her eldest child was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of two, requiring numerous surgeries, radiation treatment, and two years of chemotherapy. He went into remission, but eight years later, the cancer came back. This time, there was no viable treatment, and he passed away at the age of thirteen.
After she buried her son, she lost the desire and ability to function as a normal person. And while she loved her remaining family, her life went in a new direction.
She began to hurt herself. She would secretly make herself sick in order to gain attention. Hundreds of hospital visits ensued as she attempted suicide, mutilation, poisoning, and making herself sick again, and again and again.
With her life spinning desperately out of control she found salvation in the form of Dr. Tom Hall.
Andrea’s story along with the unconventional therapeutic relationship that cured her is told in Secrets Unraveled: Overcoming Munchausen Syndrome.
Dr. Hall explains, “Munchausen Syndrome is a rare psychiatric disorder where people make themselves sick to gain medical attention. They repeat their secret behavior over years, fooling doctors, family members and friends. Andrea Avigal was an expert.”
Anyone can overcome devastating mental illness with the right kind of help.
My thoughts:
Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Andrea, is a very strong woman to share her life story with millions. She endured such, abuse, neglect and sadness. At some points while reading this book, I cried, and than there were pages that brought a smile of hope for Andrea. It is truly amazing that she mentally was able to overcome it all and be a survivor.
I think Dr. Hall was a blessing to Andrea. He continued therapy with her, when other doctors would have probably not. Andrea was able to open up about anything and everything about her past and present to Dr. Tom. Things her own husband, Marc hadn't known. Dr. Tom went beyond therapist, he was there for Andrea outside his office (via emails, and limited phone calls).
Throughout this book, Andrea had tried to harm herself, starve herself, even tried to poison herself. Her one true pain as an adult was losing her son to Cancer and not being about to save or cure him. Andrea and Marc had two other daughters, but Andrea still could not recover from her son's loss. Her husband Marc stayed true to his marriage to Andrea. In the end of the book Andrea reveals that she opened up to her husband, Marc about her illness, her childhood pain from abuse. Without ruining the end of this book, I will just say, it brought a smile of hope to me and warmed my heart.
Andrea, with the help and co-author of this book, Thomas G.Hall, did an amazing job. A must read book for everyone! One I will read again.
You can grab a copy of this great book on Amazon.
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