ISBN: 978-0-9884390-7-8 

 

On the surface, her childhood seemed normal—even idyllic. Linda grew up in the iconic immigrant community of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, with her parents and a gifted older brother. But she spent her days at home alone with a mother who suffered major bouts of depression. At such times, young Linda was told, "Your mother…she’s not herself today." Those words did little to help Linda understand what she was witnessing. Instead, she experienced the anxiety and hyper-vigilance that often take root when secrecy and shame surround a family member who is ill. 

 

She’s Not Herself is a journey to make sense of the effects of multi-generational traumas. Shapiro is ultimately able to forgive (without forgetting) those who left her to fend for herself—and to provide readers with the wisdom of a seasoned psychotherapist who has examined human vulnerability in its many disguises and has moved through it all with dignity and hope. The result is a memoir of love, loss, loyalty, and healing. 

 

What People Are Saying

 

“An honest and compelling story by a brave and gifted writer.” ~Wally Lamb, She’s Come Undone, I Know This Much Is True, and other books

 

“A story that applies to us all—truthful, carefully crafted, and created with a clear-eyed affection.” ~David Watts, MD, poet, writer, musician, NPR commentator

 

"A revealing account of someone who grew up with a mentally ill parent and survived to become an effective, loving mother and a successful professional healer." ~The U.S. Review of Books (Read the entire review HERE.)

 

"Engaging and heart-and-soul igniting," ~Serene Wadhwa, Clinical Therapist, Windy City Reviews 

"Well-crafted and fluid, at the heart of this story resides the resilience of the human spirit." ~Diana Irvine, San Francisco Book Review 

 

"Excellent writing that will help many, many others find the strength to overcome the struggles they are dealt." ~Madeline Sharples, Leaving the Hall Light On (Read the entire review HERE.)

 

“Inspiring and eloquent.” ~Joseph Giordano, LCSW, Ethnicity and Family Therapy

 

“A compelling tale of human tragedy and triumph told with empathy and love.” ~Pamposh Dhar, founder of the Terataii Reiki and Counseling Centre, Singapore

 

“Enlightening and therapeutic.” ~Randye Kaye, radio host, author of Ben Behind His Voices: One Family's Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope
 

About Linda Appleman Shapiro 

 

The daughter of Russian immigrant parents, Shapiro was born and raised in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. As a behavioral psychotherapist for more than thirty years, she has treated adolescents, couples, and families, and has served as senior therapist at a facility for recovering addicts and their families. She has also led workshops advocating for mental illness, parenting, bereavement, and healing through meditation, hands-on healing, and dream interpretation. She and her husband, actor and audiobook narrator George Guidall, live in Westchester County, NY.