Resurrection and Redemption: Overcoming Mental Illness and Regaining Dignity [Paperback]

Harryet Ehrlich (Author), M.D., Ph.D. Lewis A. Opler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2003

As a young girl, Rebecca struggled with a severe behavior problem. Her mother continuously sought the help of mental health professionals. When all else had failed, Rebecca’s parents placed her in a program designed primarily for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, but which claimed it could cure her out-of-control behavior. The controversial treatment program was supposedly supervised by a psychiatrist, but in the 6 years Rebecca was there she never received an adequate psychiatric assessment. Only after leaving was Rebecca able to begin putting her shattered life together. Finally, correctly diagnosed, she began receiving psychotherapy and medication. Rebecca sued the treatment program for medical malpractice and won a major settlement in 1999. Today, while still requiring ongoing treatment, Rebecca lives on her own in relative peace. The story of Rebecca’s battle to get well is told by her mother, Harryet, who refused to give up, and by Dr. Lewis Opler, who never stopped believing that with the right treatment Rebecca would recover.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: PublishAmerica (March 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591293677
• ISBN-13: 978-1591293675
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,857,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely, moving, & insightful, May 1, 2004

By 

PANSS Institute, LLC (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Resurrection and Redemption: Overcoming Mental Illness and Regaining Dignity (Paperback)

This book will be among the decades' great narratives of a family's struggle with mental illness. It documents the worst forms of fraud and abuse committed to most vulnerable, as well as the highest forms of compassionate, scientific, and rationale approaches to healing. The book further dispells the myth that bipolar disorder is untreatable, demonstrating that while a cure is not yet available, help and progress are well within reach. Both the co-authors have been changed by their experiences, as will the reader. (...)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding and conquering mental ilness, October 21, 2003

By 

Noel F Jablonski (Campbell Hall (Orange County), NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Resurrection and Redemption: Overcoming Mental Illness and Regaining Dignity (Paperback)

"Ressurection and Redemption" captures the delima of coping with mental health issues in todays society. Dr.Opelar sets the tone in the first chapter when he states that we as a people are still in the dark ages with our attitudes towards mental heath problems. This book opens the doors to the real suffering on a day to day basis by the person with the mental disability and thier family. Like "The Burning Bed" by Francine Hughes who took domestic violience out of the closet and enlightened us forever, "Redemption" exposes the myths associated with the mentally ill, gives us a first hand glance at the patients suffering from their own point of view,and shows in an intimate, candid way of the Ehrlich's valient effort to navagagate the fractued mental health system that exists today. We see through Rebecca's eyes the cruel blow that nature inflicted upon her and her brave struggle for release from the bondage of a misunderstood disorder of one part of her body, her mind. We find we are not alone when dealing with this problem. There was a time in the not to not too distant past when physical disabilities were scorned upon by society. Hopefully, with time and enlightenment we will soon look upon mental illness as just another chronic desease, not a dark and foreboding secret.