Will serve as a boon to any suffering the vicious pains of mental illness.
Crisis can be defined in a number of ways. An unstable situation. An emergency. A stressful point in life. A decisive moment. All of these graphic definitions only scratch the surface of the choices and moments forming the foundation of Born Into Crisis: A Memoir by Kenneth Nixon. The statistics for mental illness have increased sharply in recent years, yet our ability to handle these situations has not grown proportionately. Partly a time-worn memoir and partly an impassioned appeal for change, Kenneth Nixon’s poignant story encompasses what it is like to grow up in an impossible situation, how people with severe mental illness are perceived and treated, what it’s like to be trapped in a repeating loop of dysfunction and distress, how we can begin to look for the light when we’re stuck in the darkness, and what can be done to change rampant neglect to a standard of care.
“I was born into crisis. My father found me in my mother’s apartment lying on the floor wrapped in newspaper…She had bitten off part of the umbilical cord.” This opening passage sets the stage for what proves to be a childhood of unrelenting confusion, pain, abuse, anguish and heartbreak. However, Nixon doesn’t readily play the role of a victim, despite the onerous obstacles placed in front of him. Sure, as a child he didn’t always treat his mother’s mental illness with grace, but that was the prevailing idea at the time, that mental illness was a weakness of character. Something that could be handled with enough fortitude. The author’s own resilience and transformation is a testament to his strength of character, his desire for change, and his deep faith. Readers will immediately connect with Nixon, either through similar experiences, suppressed traumas, or simply the need to provide stability and security to our own children in a world full of volatility.
A key takeaway from Born Into Crisis is that mental illness has far-reaching effects, obviously on the sufferer, but less discernibly on the caregivers, friends and family members. As a result, Nixon is candid with some lingering effects, including PTSD, unrelenting insecurities and debilitating anxiety. But it is precisely this candor that has the potential to touch audiences and be a force for positive change. Though every situation is unique, the author has included sensible tips in dealing with those plagued by mental illness. There are also some practical suggestions for self care, opportunities to avoid the lessons he learned the hard way, and most critically, a strongly worded call to action that can be implemented on a large and small scale. With a strong undercurrent of religious belief, the strategies in Born Into Crisis will serve as a boon to any who are suffering the vicious pains of mental illness.
