Download PDF The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live Heather B Armstrong 9781501197048 Books
Download As PDF : The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live Heather B Armstrong 9781501197048 Books
From New York Times bestselling author and blogger Heather B. Armstrong comes an honest and irreverent memoir—reminiscent of the New York Times bestseller Brain on Fire—about her experience as one of only a few people to participate in an experimental treatment for depression involving ten rounds of a chemically induced coma approximating brain death.
For years, Heather B. Armstrong has alluded to her struggle with depression on her website, dooce. It’s scattered throughout her archive, where it weaves its way through posts about pop culture, music, and motherhood. But in 2016, Heather found herself in the depths of a depression she just couldn’t shake, an episode darker and longer than anything she had previously experienced. She had never felt so discouraged by the thought of waking up in the morning, and it threatened to destroy her life. So, for the sake of herself and her family, Heather decided to risk it all by participating in an experimental clinical trial involving a chemically induced coma approximating brain death.
Now, for the first time, Heather recalls the torturous eighteen months of suicidal depression she endured and the month-long experimental study in which doctors used propofol anesthesia to quiet all brain activity for a full fifteen minutes before bringing her back from a flatline. Ten times. The experience wasn’t easy. Not for Heather or her family. But a switch was flipped, and Heather hasn’t experienced a single moment of suicidal depression since.
Disarmingly honest, self-deprecating, and scientifically fascinating, The Valedictorian of Being Dead brings to light a groundbreaking new treatment for depression.Age Range Adult
Download PDF The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live Heather B Armstrong 9781501197048 Books
"As the mother of an adult child who has struggled with depression for many years I was very interested in this treatment. My daughter has gone through extensive ECT treatments and has suffered terrible side effects. This has shown me there may eventually be another hope for her future."
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Tags : The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live [Heather B. Armstrong] on . <b>From New York Times </i>bestselling author and blogger Heather B. Armstrong comes an honest and irreverent memoir—reminiscent of </i>the New York Times </i>bestseller Brain on Fire</i>—about her experience as one of only a few people to participate in an experimental treatment for depression involving ten rounds of a chemically induced coma approximating brain death.</b> For years,Heather B. Armstrong,The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live,Gallery Books,1501197045,Armstrong, Heather B - Mental health,Autobiographies,Depression (Psychology);Patients;Biography.,Depression, Mental - Patients - United States,Depression, Mental - Treatment,Depression, Mental;Patients;United States;Biography.,Depression, Mental;Treatment.,BIOGRAPHY AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Medical (incl. Patients),BIOGRAPHY AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs,Biography Autobiography/Personal Memoirs,Biography/Autobiography,Biography general,Biography science, technology medicine,GENERAL,General Adult,HEALTH FITNESS / Diseases / Nervous System (incl. Brain),HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN,Health Fitness/Diseases - Nervous System (incl. Brain),MENTAL DEPRESSION,Medical/Diseases,Memoirs,Non-Fiction,Personal Memoir,United States,dooce; medical memoir; books about mental health; books about mental illness; medical mystery; books like brain on fire; it sucked and then i cried; things i learned about my dad; dear daughter; post partum depression; carrie fisher; books about depression; brain development; brain disease; wishful drinking; postcards from the edge; depression for dummies; ayelet waldman; a really good day; depression treatment; depression cure; post partum books; post partum anxiety; mental illness books; manic; the center cannot hold; brain death; mommy blogger books; salt lake city; valedictorian of being dead; heather armstrong; heather b. armstrong; brain on fire; educated; Jon Armstrong; John Armstrong; ECT Clinic at University Neuropsychiatric Institute on the campus of The University of Utah; university of utah; ect; shock therapy,valedictorian of being dead; heather armstrong; heather b. armstrong; brain on fire; dooce; medical memoir; books about mental health; books about mental illness; medical mystery; medical memoir; books like brain on fire; it sucked and then i cried; things i learned about my dad; dear daughter; post partum depression; carrie fisher; books about depression; brain development; brain disease; wishful drinking; postcards from the edge; depression for dummies; ayelet waldman; a really good day; depression treatment; depression cure; post partum books; post partum anxiety; mental illness books; manic; the center cannot hold; brain death; mommy blogger books; salt lake city; educated; Jon Armstrong; John Armstrong; ECT Clinic at University Neuropsychiatric Institute on the campus of The University of Utah; university of utah; ect; shock therapy;
The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live Heather B Armstrong 9781501197048 Books Reviews :
The Valedictorian of Being Dead The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live Heather B Armstrong 9781501197048 Books Reviews
- I bought this because my friend was going through the same ECT treatment. The writing is good, but I’m about to stop reading because of the incessant use of the F word. So unnecessary and off-putting.
- About 2 hours into reading this book I tasted my tears as they poured down down my cheeks- and it startled me. This book has been on my must read list for months, I was delighted to find it in my library and was looking forward to reading it. I had no idea that this was so much more than a story about treatment resistant depression. This is a really, really long love letter that Heather B. Armstrong writes not only to her mother, her 2 daughters, her doctors, but to herself. I did not put this book down, I could not put this book down. If you have ever loved someone who suffers from depression and want to catch a glimpse of their lives, you must read this book. If this procedure can do for others what it did for Ms. Armstrong, the lives of millions of people will be changed. Ms. Armstrong's words are like music, they grab your soul and become a part of you. 1979 forever!!!
- I’ve been reading Heather for god, 16 years now. Possibly longer. No one can describe being up shit creek like Heather, and make you laugh. With that said, this book made me cry, and laugh, hard. I’ve suffered from depression my whole life and having someone describe it so accurately was amazing good. Her journey was incredible and I hope that this treatment lasts for her and helps so many others. What stood out the most for me is her worry of her ex taking her kids away if she openly sought help. THIS IS REAL! Much love to you Heather for sharing your life as you have over the years. It’s made a lot of people happy. Much love to your amazing family and especially to your girls.
- I was going to email Heather and tell her the effect her book had on me after I devoured it in one sitting, but I figured if she can be brave enough to write about her depression in a book, I can be brave enough to leave a public review. My family has a long standing history with alcoholism, bipolar disorder and anxiety - the trifecta of mental health issues. Lately it’s been hard to want to do...anything. My GP has tweaked my meds time and time again and I’ve struggled to admit to myself that the cocktail I’m on just isn’t working.
Heather’s book opened my eyes and validated what I was feeling - what others around me either couldn’t see or didn’t understand. Her bravery in taking such a phenomenal risk to climb out of the hole that is depression inspired me to shower, wash my hair for the first time in a week, put on makeup, and call my doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist. That might not sound like much to some, but to others suffering from mental health issues, and to Heather? They’ll understand just how much that is.
Thank you, Heather, from the bottom of my heart. I am so happy for you, and so grateful for what you have written. - When someone feels so bad, I mean the deepest, darkest kind of despair, but is willing to try anything to feel better because even though the alternative seems preferable, they truly want to find happiness and will go to extreme lengths to find a way to come through, that is strength. We’re talking ‘being dead’ in order to live. As in the most experimental of treatments where doctors put you in a series of chemically induced comas to simulate brain death, to hopefully eradicate treatment resistant depression. This is what Heather B. Armstrong did and lived to see the light of day in her compelling memoir THE VALEDICTORIAN OF BEING DEAD THE TRUE STORY OF DYING TEN TIMES TO LIVE. If you are expecting sadness and pure gloom, erase those thoughts. This book is the story of how one woman, recently divorced, raising two young daughters, learns how to ask for help, to help herself, as she shares her story with raw honesty, humor (yes), compassion, appreciation, and love for those around her.
You will cheer every step of the way for Heather and for the dedicated and courageous medical community. THE VALEDICTORIAN OF BEING DEAD demonstrates what family is all about, it is about having compassion for others, and a first hand account of one brave woman saved by an extraordinary scientific breakthrough. - I've been a follower of Armstrong's blog site (dooce) for a long time. She was one of the first bloggers to turn that platform into a career. Her writing has always been a mélange of sarcasm, sauciness, and passion. In other words, I've always loved the way Heather writes.
That style doesn't work as well here--the "valedictorian of" motif gets tired rather quickly--but this is still a good read. Rather than parse each word to create a nuanced, metaphoric sense of what crushing depression feels like, she does something more clever she unpacks how she lives and links to how she presents to the world. In other words, that "lazy" parent who "always" has on "those" pants might well be struggling. Those elements of the book can only create empathy.
More importantly, she delineates the many forms of stigma and how women--especially parents--are punished if they are forthright about their struggles. Rather than coming across whiney or entitled, she conveys her sense is of terror. Brilliantly. - As the mother of an adult child who has struggled with depression for many years I was very interested in this treatment. My daughter has gone through extensive ECT treatments and has suffered terrible side effects. This has shown me there may eventually be another hope for her future.
- Emotional, absorbing and fascinating read. Beautifully written with enough humor for comic relief from all the heaviness. Highly recommended!
