Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story [Paperback]

Lynn C. Tolson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2003

A true story, Beyond the Tears begins with the suicide attempt of an abused and addicted twenty-five-year-old woman. In the aftermath, she commits to counseling to recover from anxiety and depression associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. The author engages the reader in therapy sessions where the young woman reveals dysfunctional family relationships, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and mental illness. Due to the therapeutic process, the woman discovers a path to love and the value of life, and she ultimately achieves a life that reflects health and happiness. In sharing this inspirational journey, the author provides a message of hope.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After her first eighteen years in the Northeast, Lynn Tolson moved to the Southwest where she engaged in careers in real estate and property management. During those years, she survived post-traumatic stress disorder, which manifested in addictions and suicide attempts. Through the therapeutic process, she determined the causes of her dysfunction and was able to ultimately achieve a life that reflects health and happiness. Her memoir, Beyond the Tears, illustrates physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation; her story offers a message of hope. Tolson currently resides in the Midwest where she returned to college to obtain a degree in social work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; 1st edition (September 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410724174
• ISBN-13: 978-1410724175
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #832,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After her first eighteen years in the Northeast, Lynn Tolson moved to the Southwest where she engaged in careers in real estate and property management. During those years, she survived post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which manifested in addictions and suicide attempts. Through the therapeutic process, she determined the causes of her dysfunction, which included childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. Ultimately, she was able to achieve a life that reflects health and happiness. Her memoir, Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story illustrates physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation; her story offers a message of hope. Tolson moved to the Midwest where she returned to college to obtain a degree in social work. She has also overcome breast cancer. She resides in the Rocky Mountains where she works as an artist, author, and advocate.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared to be captivated...and up all night September 27, 2005

By E. Dian Moore

Format:Paperback

During my research on domestic violence to feature in Sisters in the Lord Magazine for October, which happens to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I ran across Lynn Tolson's, Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story.

By the second paragraph of Beyond the Tears, I was transported into the mind of a young woman bent on suicide and traveled with her through her suicide attempt, discovery, revival in a cold hospital room and transfer to a psyche ward. This was just in the first chapter.

The remainder of my night was shot as I stayed awake, reading each page as quickly as possible so that I might know this woman was okay. That she recovered. That she escaped her abuser and survived.

Intense doesn't begin to describe Beyond the Tears. This writer's true story reads like a best-selling thriller - but it's not fiction. It's Tolson's nightmare that begins the story and her victorious survival that ends it.

Peopled with characters we all know in our own lives, Tolson brings her own cast alive with crisp dialogue and action - oftentimes breathtaking with brutal honesty. Tolson's abuse cycle started as a child and continued through her marriage. The pages turn on their own as this compelling true story shows the cycle of abuse, the mindset of the victim, the actions of the abuser, the betrayal of relatives and friends and finally, the first steps toward healing.

As I suspected when reading Tolson's story, her true calling was to be a writer, which she revealed in a subsequent interview. She is now working on her second survival story - this time she has survived breast cancer.

Beyond the Tears is critical reading for victims of abuse. Through Tolson's story, many will recognize themselves, their families, their spouses, their friends, and from there, recognize that they, too, can heal-even when death seems like the best solution.

Tolson says it best in this quote from her website, "In the meantime, know that my purpose as Lynn C. Tolson is in my initials: LCT, Learning, Creating, Teaching, to provide empowerment of our minds, bodies, and spirits. May this generation break the silence that surrounds sexual assault and incest so that future generations may live in peace."

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Male's point of view/ A therapists point of view February 3, 2005

By Dean Balderston

Format:Paperback

Beyond the Tears was very captivating. I felt for and understood Lynn as she told her story. I never felt that it was biased in any way, and longed to find out what was coming next. As a man reading a story about a woman and her experiences with sexual, emotional and physical abuse, I was touched by her courage to continue, even when she did not want to continue she persevered, found strength and did more than survive, she thrived. I was able to identify with the main character just as easily as if that person had been male. As a therapist I have encouraged several of my clients to read this book to assist them in working through their abuse issues(both male and female clients). If I could sum up the most impressive thing about this book besides the author, it would be how she tells her story as though she is telling it to her therapist. That is very healthy and encouraging to others who may need counseling. Thank you so much Lynn for sharing your story and breaking the silence.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for real life survivors May 12, 2003

By Linda Garlinger

Format:Paperback

A survivor is not always the one who is the strongest or the wisest, but the one who perseveres. Lynn Tolson's story is compelling and uplifting. She takes the reader through the darkest moments of her life into a place where peace and happiness come to fruition. The book is candid but not brutal. It is an enjoyable read with a great message. Tolson is truly a gifted writer.