All the Things We Never Knew: Chasing the Chaos of Mental Illness

by Sheila Hamilton

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Author: Sheila Hamilton

Publisher: Seal Press

Hardcover:
ISBN 10: 1580055842
ISBN 13: 978-1580055840

A reporter chases the biggest story of her life -- her husband's descent into mental illness.

Even as a reporter, Sheila Hamilton missed the signs as her husband David's mental illness unfolded before her. By the time she had pieced together the puzzle, it was too late. Her once brilliant and passionate partner was dead within six weeks of a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, leaving his wife and nine-year-old daughter without so much as a note to explain his actions, a plan to help them recover from their profound grief, or a solution for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt that they would inherit from him.

All the Things We Never Knew takes readers on a breathtaking journey, from David and Sheila's early romance through the last three months of their life together and into the year after his death. It details their unsettling spiral from ordinary life into the world of mental illness, examines the fragile line between reality and madness, and reveals the true power of love and forgiveness.

Review

"A boldly beautiful page-turner about loving and losing someone with mental illness. I'll be recommending this absorbing memoir for years to come."―Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild

"If you've ever asked the question 'Do I need help?' or 'Does my loved one need help?' then read this book.... [Sheila Hamilton] gives us permission not to go through hardship alone, no matter what crises we face."―Laura Munson, New York Times-bestselling author of This is Not the Story You Think It Is and founder of Haven Writing Retreats

"All the Things We Never Knew is so beautiful, so raw, and so powerful. It is, in a word, spectacular, and Sheila Hamilton is so generous and brave to share this story with the rest of the world. Anyone who has struggled with mental illness -- their own, their family members', their friends' (which is to say, all of us) -- will come away from this deeply human book feeling less alone."―Kelly Williams Brown, bestselling author of Adulting

"A bold and honest book that takes the stigma out of mental illness and explores the terrible and beautiful angles when a loved one suffers from bipolar disorder."―Lee Woodruff, bestselling author of In an Instant

"One of the most candid, heart-wrenching, and deeply moving accounts of the wake of destruction caused by the suicide of a loved one."―Kevin Hines, author of Cracked, Not Broken

From the Author

Tony Morrison said, "If there is a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written, you must write it." When my husband of ten years began showing distinct signs of agitation, depression, paranoia and confusion, I went to Powell's bookstore in Portland, Oregon to find a book written for caregivers of people with mental illness. I found nothing. Many books are written from the perspective of people suffering from mental health disorders. Very few are written for caregivers. I wrote the book I wanted to read.

All the Things We Never Knew is part memoir, part mental health guide. Read the narrative first and skip the chapters for later reference. If you're in crisis, read the inserts first. The reported pieces contain crucial information for anyone attempting to navigate the mental health system.

Cheryl Strayed, Laura Munson, Karen Karbo and many other writers whom I admire have

heartily endorsed the book. I learned so much from reading their honest and beautiful memoirs. I hope All the Things We Never Knew opens your heart and arms you with the information and tools you need to take care of your own mental health.

About the Author

Sheila Hamilton is a five-time Emmy Award winning journalist. Sheila's storytelling resume runs through film, commercial television, radio and print. She began her career as an associate producer for public broadcasting, and then anchored and reported commercial television news for KTVX in Salt Lake City, Utah and KATU in Portland, Oregon.

Sheila currently hosts the Kink morning show in Portland, Oregon where she was recently voted Oregon's Best Radio Personality.

Sheila also writes cover stories for About Face Magazine and authors the blog, SheilaHamilton.com

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All the Things We Never Knew: Chasing the Chaos of Mental Illness