Customer Reviews

"What Difference Does It Make?" (The Journey Of A Soul Surivor)

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I first met Wendy on the internet a few years ago and was able to attain a copy of the book just recently. I have never been much of an advocate for some of the methods used by the psychiatric profession to treat "Mental Illnesses". I have had several friends who had nervous breakdowns and such, and they always returned from their stays at various hospitals and psych wards worse off then they were prior to going in. They were either subjected to ECT or the miriad of drugs these doctors like to prescribe instead of just finding out what the real problem is and supporting the person through the rough patch. We had always joked about ECT, as we all had our reasons for not supporting it. This book confirmed exactly why we were against it.

I read this book out loud to my roommate and we both could not believe what was happening to Wendy. When I read out loud where she was from, it shocked us even more, considering we live in the same city she did. That brought this story a lot closer to home for us.

This book shows that these things can happen to anyone, anywhere...even in your hometown. It also shows how much power those in the medical profession hold and what can happen when that power falls into the wrong hands. For seven years, I worked in the medical profession as a medical assistant and home care worker, and I too saw what sort torment many patients, especially those in long term care situations, have to endure.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has either been in this situation, is considering this situation or knows someone in this situation. This is an inspiring look at how one woman managed to survive such a situation.

Wendy's book is a very well written horror story. Someone should make a movie about her experiences. The true tragedy is that this story takes place in modern times. You would expect this sort of treatment to have taken place a hundred years ago, when we knew little about the human mind and psychology. I have come to know Wendy over the past several months, and I am in awe of her ability to adapt to her new life, and in her bravery in telling her story. God bless you, Wendy.

Being on the same ward as Wendy I remember how she suffered. It was heartbreaking seeing this girl become a nobody with her thoughts and memories disappearing day after day. Havn't spoken to her in years but hope she is doing fine. If anyone hears from her tell her "Jack" says hi.

A totally shattering account of one person's ordeal with forced electroshock 'treatment', and her triumph over what appeared to be impossible odds in recovering from this assault.

This should be required reading for health professionals of all disciplines, media, lawmakers and any member uf the public who is even considering psychiatric 'treatment', whether for themselves or a loved one - Wendy Funk's story is guaranteed to make you seriously reconsider this option.

This book brought me to my knees. ECT is the most expensiveprocedure in mental health treatment and one wonders who reallybenefits. Wendy Funk exposes, through her personal and very painful experience, that women need to be very wary and very cautious when putting themselves into the hands of physicians. I mourn the losses she endured and will be forever grateful to her for risking even more in the telling. Brava, Wendy Funk, you are a woman of distinction and I honour you.

Wendy grabbed my attention in the preface with a vivid description of an incident that would best be described as a horrible nightmare. From there, she took me on a journey through her journal she tried to maintain while incarcerated in a mental health ward in Alberta, Canada. Her battles with the so called, "professionals" showed me her fighting spirit to try and regain control of her life.

Incarceration conjours up visions of iron cages and armed guards but as I read the book my vision of incarceration changes. The removal of freedom of clear thought as prescribed by the psychiatric professional with their mind altering arsenal is the first step. From that point, the government, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies complete the cage by providing the power and money to feed the psychiatric professional with more tools to create society's vision of "normal per gender".

Wendy's courage in telling her story and warning to those who will listen shows her caring for the human race. I leave this story with a few more survival skills in my belt thanks to her.

I read Wendy Funk's book last week and it has taken me this long to truly process the horror she must have endured to end up in a psychiatric hospital for a sore throat. I am amazed and fascinated that a person could survive that sort of medical abuse and not only be able to live any sort of normal life but be able to live at all.

From the moment I picked up the book I was unable to put it down. I think Wendy must be one of the strongest most determined people on the planet. I will never seek medical treatment for any ailment, no matter how trivial, without being a little more cautious about my doctor's intentions. This is definitely a must read.

I just finished reading Ms. Funk's book. It took me one evening of reading, as it was fascinating, yet horrifying to read. As it was a true story, it makes one think twice prior to going to a Dr. for any ailment they may have. This book was a painfully honest, truthful book, and I can only say congratulations, Ms. Funk, for surviving. I found the book to be frightening at times, to think that this type of "medicinal helpfulness" was still being practiced today, and for those who didn't survive their ordeal, thank God. My best wishes go out to Ms. Funk,and I feel it is a book that anyone should read, whether or not they have been diagnosed as being mentally ill or not. I would be terrified to tell a dr. that I was feeling depressed, or for that matter a sore throat! This is one of the finest books I have ever read, and every Phychiatrist should also read. I must agree with the author that this was not a place to get help, but it was similar to a concentration camp. It is a must read, as it certainly showed Medicinal Help in it's true colors. My very best to Ms. Funk, and am truly glad she is a survivor, albeit memory problems, eye problems, etc after her many ordeals in the camp. Keep the faith, Ms. Funk, as you are truly a survivor. I could read and re read your book many times and get more and more out of it. Scary at best, it was a certain eye opener. One of the finest autobiographies I have ever read. I hope to read more books of yours in the future. Sandra

I read Wendy's book and know the truth of it. I knew Wendy before and after her "treatments". The truly amazing part of her story is her strength of will that kept her writing in her journals. Her husband has always been one of her main supporters and cheer-leaders. The experience was excrutiatingly painful for him as well. This book is a must read (although it is difficult because of the sadness and horrifying at the same time)and hopefully will spur changes in the psychiatric part of the medical profession. Some of these doctors are getting away with murder! You absolutely cannot put the book down once you begin - it's truth is scarier than fiction. Some of it may be hard to believe - but believe it, it's true.

I begrudgingly award this book 3 stars for readability; to deduct from its rating further for its painful bias (or its lack of copy-editing) would only bring into question the veracity of my review. However, I do so wish that this piece of propaganda had come with some sort of content warning. It's unfortunate that the narrator received what she perceived to be unnecessary medical treatment, but the fact remains that ECT and psychopharmaceuticals *are* medical treatment. They are, for some, the only way to stem the crippling symptoms of brain diseases. Discrediting psychiatry as a whole is a disservice to them.

Being institutionalized is not fun, but there are many tomes that detail the "awful truth" of life on the wrong side of social services without casting aspersions on the entire field. Try "The Last Time I Wore a Dress," for starters.