Struck by Living by Julie K. Hersh
There’s a person like me in every community. Normally at the center of things, friendly, I’m almost always ready for a new experience or a new adventure. In September of 2001, all that changed. When most people watched two planes crash again and again into the twin towers, I sat in a locked psychiatric ward, ready for my first session of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). I was so sure I had nothing more to offer my family, my two young children and my community I drove my car into my garage and let it run for 90 minutes.
Luckily, I survived. My book Struck by Living is a hopeful story of how I learned to manage my clinical depression. ECT provided a jump start, but I knew if I did not understand the “why” of my disease, I’d be doomed to repeat the cycle. I’ve tried to make my book readable – more like a page-turner novel than a how to book. We already have too many depressing books on depression on the market today. I also believe that every person must make his or her own way through the maze of depression. There are no pat answers, but if we share our stories we can learn from each other.
Although my book’s focus is depression, the core of my book revolves around a struggle universal for most women. We are the caretakers – the invisible glue that keeps our families and communities together. My book explores the importance of preserving one’s identity while we take care of others. Pulled between a husband, children, aging grandparents, an interfaith marriage and far from my family of origin; I lost my identity. My genetic predisposition for depression sped my unraveling, but this is a challenge many of us face. My book shares my journey in the hope that others will share theirs and support each other.
You can pre-order Julie’s book here.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your profound story with us, Julie.
I’ll admit, I get a little blue around the holidays, even though I’m an absolute FANATIC about Christmas. Most of my friends, even my much older friends, still have living parents so the childhood traditions are still kept intact. Memories are shared, photos taken and loved ones come in from near and far to get the in-person hugs and kisses.