Ben Behind His Voices

When readers first meet Ben, he is a sweet, intelligent, seemingly well-adjusted youngster. Fast forward to his teenage years, though, and Ben's life has spun out of control. Ben is swept along by an illness over which he has no control-one that results in runaway episodes, periods of homelessness, seven psychotic breaks, seven hospitalizations, and finally a diagnosis and treatment plan that begins to work. Schizophrenia strikes an estimated one in a hundred people worldwide by some estimates, and yet understanding of the illness is lacking. Through Ben's experiences, and those of his mother and sister, who supported Ben through every stage of his illness and treatment, readers gain a better understanding of schizophrenia, as well as mental illness in general, and the way it affects individuals and families.

Here, Kaye encourages families to stay together and find strength while accepting the reality of a loved one's illness; she illustrates, through her experiences as Ben's mother, the delicate balance between letting go and staying involved. She honors the courage of anyone who suffers with mental illness and is trying to improve his life and participate in his own recovery. Ben Behind His Voices also reminds professionals in the psychiatric field that every patient who comes through their doors has a life, one that he has lost through no fault of his own. It shows what goes right when professionals treat the family as part of the recovery process and help them find support, education, and acceptance. And it reminds readers that those who suffer from mental illness, and their families, deserve respect, concern, and dignity.

Autorentext
Randye Kaye is an actress, broadcaster, voice talent, and speaker. She served more than twenty years as a major radio personality in Connecticut, and continues to work in theater, TV, film, commercials, industrials, and audiobooks. She is also the Connecticut trainer of Family-to-Family Educators for the National Alliance of Mental Illness, and a diversity trainer for the Anti-Defamation League. Randye is a member of SAG, AFTRA, AEA, NAMI, The National Speakers Association, and Mensa. www.randyekaye.com

Inhalt
Foreword
Introduction: 2010
Snapshot: The Turning Point
Part One: Warning Signs
Reflections

1. Beginnings
2. Ben Drops Out
3. There Must Be a Reasonable Explanation
4. The Wailing Wall
5. The Black Eye
   Part Two: Chaos, Trial and Error
   Reflections
6. Frightening Thoughts
7. Almost Arrested
8. The Last Resort
9. Psychic Vampires
10. Diagnosis Roulette
    Part Three: Dealing with Catastrophic Events
    Reflections
11. Almost Hospitalized
12. Finally, Sick Enough
13. Frozen: Hospitalization Number Three
14. Hospitalizations Four and Five
    Part Four: Recovery and Acceptance
    Reflections
15. He's Still in There
16. Baby Steps to Normal: Realistic Expectations
17. Ordinary Miracles
18. The Drum Circle
19. Relapse and the Road Back
20. You Can't Reason With Mental Illness
21. Love: the Positive "Second Hit"
22. No Secrets: Fighting Stigma
23. Never Give Up Hope
    Resources