After Schizophrenia: The Story of How My Sister Got Help, Got Hope, and Got on with Life After 30 Years in Her Room

From her early 30's until her early 60's, Barbara Hawkins lived cloistered in her family home in suburban Chicago, a prisoner of undiagnosed mental illness. Hearing voices and paralyzed with fear, she was never evaluated, never treated, and refused to leave the house. AFTER SCHIZOPHRENIA is the story of Barb's descent into severe mental illness and the healing that has come only in recent years: after her parents' death when her sister Margaret became her guardian. With uncanny grace and humor, Margaret chronicles her family's struggle with Barb's mental illness, the love that carried them through, and the virtual army of healthcare angels willing to come to Barb's aid. This is an extraordinary story of severe mental illness and the healing that is possible with prompt diagnosis, good drugs, good care, and a fierce belief in the power to get well. This book is for: 1. friends of family members of those afflicted with this particular kind of mental illness. 2. Mental health professionals and care-givers. 3. Readers of harrowing and inspirational memoirs Originally published in hardcover as How We Got Barb Back (9781573244770, 2010) by Conari Press