“John AllenPast President of the National Association of Consumer/Survivors Offices of Consumer Affairs, NYC“THE UNDOING by Andrea Schmook, vividly shares how it felt to experience a crisis and then find out you have been taken to the state psychiatric hospital. Her description of the experiences and her emotions of her crisis will resonate. Understanding these feelings may help others who have experienced mental health concerns. Hopefully their families and providers can find, within these descriptions, new and less harmful ways to support their loved ones and patients.
In her book, Andrea uses her personal experiences to lay out how she managed her path to “recovery” which far too many people have been historically told cannot happen. I hope her descriptions help provide testament to that difficult journey of healing the traumas one experiences and dispelling the myths that in many places continue to promote illness rather than wellness. This book is a MUST read!!!!”
“Merryl Joy HughesFormer Worker for Grow Australia and United States“Andrea’s story is a personal account of her experience of her mental breakdown, subsequent hospitalization, and her healing and recovery. Andrea talks about the circumstances that led to her breakdown, the family violence and will perhaps give insight into anyone struggling with their own mental health issues. Andrea’s message with her story is that people can recover, with help from family and friends, along with professional help when needed.”
“June WoodsMember of GROW in Ireland and American in various leadership positions for over 30 years“Andrea’s story is living proof of a truth I first learned in GROW: recovering from mental illness is painful but permanently rewarding. Her journey shows that even when fear has dominated most of a life, it can be transformed through new ways of thinking, affirmation, and the support of loved ones.
What touched me most was her experience with her father—the control, the beatings, and the distorted way he explained God. These painful memories revealed how much damage can be done in childhood yet also made her recovery all the more inspiring.
Andrea writes with honesty about her diagnosis, the hard work of healing, and the destructive impact of being told by professionals she would never recover. Her story carries a vital message: complete recovery from even the most severe mental illness is possible. It is a book, I believe, every mental health professional should read, and one that offers hope and choice to anyone who feels trapped in illness.”
“Carey S. Edney, Ph.D.Psychologist, Retired“Andrea’s book is a powerful sharing that sheds a light for behavioral health professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. It is also a beacon of hope for consumers, psychiatric survivors, ex-patients, and all of us who have struggled. She tells the story of her painful journey from a childhood of fear through a tumultuous adulthood marked by shame, abuse, and confusion in a way that provides the reader glimpses of the faith, hope and love that ultimately save her. Her self-determination, honesty and persistence in the face of struggle provided the impetus to grow and heal.
In addition to the inspiring personal story, the book is a guide for consumers and service providers who want to harness the healing power of self-determination, honesty and connection. Throughout the book are references to healing thoughts, poems, books and philosophies. The final chapters provide a wealth of resources on the history and development of the consumer movement and keys to spiritual healing.
I write this recommendation in gratitude for the time I was able to work with Andrea in her role as Executive Director of Consumer Driven Services at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services. It is an honor to be asked to be an early reader of this inspiring book.”
“Mary Ellen DonovanRet. RN, MSN, Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS-IL)“If you are concerned that reading Andrea Schmook’s The Undoing will take you or someone you love, somewhere in the past one doesn’t want to go, release that concern. You will instead, find through sharing her story, a guide to recognizing choices around you when none seem to exist.
For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, The Undoing transforms life experiences into spiritual experiences. Andrea’s story accompanies the reader past vignets of trauma, toward a spiritual path with guides disguised as chance meetings, mysterious arrangements disguised as coincidence, faith disguised as choices, and spiritual uplift disguised as resolve to do all it takes to be whole in one’s own eyes.
The Undoing is for anyone trying to make sense of turmoil and make a shift away from blame to spiritual self-determination.”
