The Second Chasm: A Soul's Troubled Journey from Despair to Healing (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"The Second Chasm" is a story that belongs to the twenty million people in the United States alone who suffer from depression. Six years after an emotionally devastating divorce, the author read "The Cracker Factory" and learned that the symptoms she had experienced were classical among those who are clinically depressed. This knowledge brought her healing and self-understanding. Just five years after reading the book, her second husband was killed in an accident, and soon after, she descended into a second chasm of depression. Perhaps the most compelling feature of "The Second Chasm" is that it was written by an average person who experiences grief not unlike that of so many others. It is not a story of the greatest tragedy or the most difficult challenge; rather, it is the story of a common tragedy and an all-too familiar challenge. It is unique because it bridges two of the most common losses faced in this world: divorce and widowhood. The two separate chasms that resulted not from grief, but from depression, were born of the same illness. The recoveries offer a message of hope, as she describes the journey from despair to healing.

From the Publisher

REVIEWS

"A unique point of view that will help readers cope better with the unexpected and the tragic." -- Rev. Ronald L. Rehrer, Family Therapist

"With simplicity and strength, Karen weaves the recollections of good and bad moments of her life in such a way that she is telling the story of every person who ever dealt with loss, loneliness, depression. She bravely brings to light the dark days of her life, naming her deepest feelings and offering them to her readers as a gift of hope." -- Cláudia Bisol, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

"Captures the haunting paradox of clinical depression-people who are depressed often don't know it. Karen's voice has at times a lyrical quality that belies her apt description of how life - with all of its ups and downs, blessings and losses - can trigger an insidious clinical depression, unbeknownst to the person trapped in the `chasm' of isolation from which the author has escaped at last. Her story shines a light of hope for the rest of us." -- Karen E. Peterson, Ph.D., Psychologist and Author of Write

"My eyes were moist for the entire read and I was moved again and again by Karen's struggles and her overcoming. She writes clearly about a topic in which self-indulgence and unnecessary detail is tempting at every turn and she avoids both with deftness and constraint. I think she is to be applauded for her truth, her honesty and her insight. -- Clifford Lane Mark, Author of Ecumensus - The Next Vision

"A heart-warming personal voyage filled with sadness and pain, joy and triumph. Depression and loss are, for many, part of our life experience. Karen's journey from despair to healing gives hope to all, that loss and deep despair are able to be healed." -- Marjorie Schulte, CDSW, PLLC, Psychotherapist

"Surviving depression, divorce, tragedy and loss, Karen's very real story offers hope and courage to her readers. It is about family, faith and the profound and complicated experience of putting one foot in front of the other...and inspiring journey." -- Joyce Beck, Psychotherapist and Co-founder of the Crossings, Austin, TX

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Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing (January 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932279318
• ISBN-13: 978-1932279313
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,597,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sharing the Path, September 7, 2009

By	Phoebe Grigg (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Second Chasm is a book about grieving. Despite the topic, it is not a frightening book. It is a friendly book. It is as if a friend sat down with you and told you the story of her experience, walking you through it to be sure you understand, so that you can know you are not alone if and when you go through something similar. What's particularly helpful is the author's description about her own internal splitting and shutting others out, so even in that you don't need to be alone. The author refers often to a book called The Cracker Factory, by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt, and how that book gave her a touch-stone and hope when there was no hope. I happen to have discovered that same book at a similar time in my life, and it had the same affect on me. The Second Chasm thus feels like a book by a sister traveler along the same path. This book would be particularly good, I think, for someone not in a space to hear a lot of theory, but just to hear sharing that lets them know they're not alone.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Road from Darkness into Light, June 17, 2009

By	Emily C. Lodine - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read Karen Kibler's book with great interest as depression and mental illness are in our family tree. Her story of dealing with clinical depression helped me learn so much about both problems as they often seem to be tenaciously interwined. Karen writes honestly and with great care, and it is a blessing that she has the courage to explain and discuss such painful things. "The Second Chasm" is deeply meaningful and I encourage anyone interested in this subject to read it. I am so grateful to her for having written this book.
Sincerely, Emily Lodine

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful!, March 3, 2009

By	Shelley Jones (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the interest of full disclosure, I work with Karen and consider her to be a good friend. I have met some of the people that accompanied her on her journeys and have heard her relate many of her experiences before. She comes across so genuinely in this book, I could see and hear Karen saying some of the remarks.

The experiences and feelings she conveys are so relatable. I cried hearing how hard things had been for her at times and for my own losses and struggles. She has led a very interesting life and tells great "stories" of her experiences. I could not put the book down! I read it straight through the first night.

I think of Karen as someone who can do anything, is strong, extremely successful and happily married. I know it was her intention to help others and she has accomplished that - but like I said, she can do anything.