Overcoming Domestic Abuse and a Misdiagnosis of Mental Illness. Based on a true story.
A once vibrant oak tree in her yard began dying, voicing cries of help through its dead leaves and moss-covered branches. Inside the house Barbara too was in crisis, the recipient of her husband’s anger and rage. As time passes Barbara can no longer stay strong. While she deals with her own demons, the oak too weakens. Based on a true story, this woman takes us inside her emotionally charged existence, letting us feel the anguish of domestic abuse, divorce, attempted suicides, and incarceration in a mental institution. A savior finally unravels the mystery surrounding her dysfunctional mental state and leads her on the path to recovery. This book is a must-read for anyone going through domestic abuse or depression, or family members who are trying to make sense out of the situation.
120 pages $14.95
“Excellent book! I saw the book posted on a Cushion’s disease group listed on Facebook and had to have it. My daughter gave it to me as a present for Christmas. I am so glad I was able to get a copy. I feel like it help me so much. I walked beside Barbara in this book. I saw everything she saw. The oak tree, I cried. This book helped me accept that nothing I did was my fault. Love to you and thank you.” Rowanna Fry-Australia
Excerpt
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Survival
Chapter 2 Innocent 1943
Chapter 3 Divorce 1976
Chapter 4 Nervous Breakdown 1979
Chapter 5 Higganum 1959
Chapter 6 Connecticut Institution
1983
Chapter 7 Bethesda Maryland
Chapter 8 The Long Way Home
Postscript
Resources
Professional Reviews
–Mark Tuttle, MD
This is an excellent book. We, as physicians, must always question that the obvious answer may not be correct. Medicine is a career of learning, unlearning, and learning anew as new diseases and cures are discovered. We should never avoid questioning a diagnosis or treatment as was well demonstrated by this book.
Narration is hypnotic
” This book possessed me” I just received the book in the mail, opened it, glanced inside to see how it begins.Did not move until I finished it. Definitely the author’s narration is hypnotic. It is taking some time to return to my normal state of mind. This may sound weird but I am describing as best I can what I have just experienced. I have been a psychotherapist for more than 30 years and I have written several self-help books. And I have read many, many more. Sherry Genga’s The Shattered Oak is like nothing else I have read with the one exception being the novelist, William Styron. This book is only 120 pages. Regardless of your motivation, I suggest that you read it.-Thom Rutledge, author of Embracing Fear. Tennessee
A valuable resource
The Shattered Oak is amazing. It has helped many women who have walked through the doors of DreamLife Recovery. It is one of my most borrowed books. After our clients read it we spend about an hour together processing its contents. Women speak of similarities in their stories and comment on how it is helping them heal from the trauma of domestic violence that lead to their substance misuse/abuse. This book has become a valuable resource for me. –Amy Rhoades MSW, LSW, BSN, RN, Doctoral Student V.P. of Clinical Services DreamLife Recovery
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Reviews for "The Shattered Oak"
Reviewed by Charles Anderson
1/10/2020
Amazing story told in the first person. I couldn't stop reading. This is a powerful look at one woman's domestic abuse trauma that resulted in several suicide attempts and finally incarceration into a mental institution. It relates so well to people I know that have been in similar situations and had no one to talk to. This book can help families as well as those suffering from domestic abuse. It is a must read!
Such a powerful story of trauma, suicide attempts, incarceration in a mental hospital and finally a solution to her malady. Rarely do you get the inside look of a person going through this from her own perspective. The author did a remarkable job and will keep you glued to the pages.
This book summarizes life's ten toughest tests with ten passwords each to pass these tests. The current overload, speed of change and chaos are all summarized well enough to get to the Land of Simple on the other side quicker than usual.
