Christine went to the kitchen to get a sleeping tablet. She swallowed the whole bottle. Why?
Christine had been strong all her life. She had dealt with mental health issues that included caregiving, raised a son with multiple disabilities, and recovered from severe antidepressant withdrawal.
She had always hidden behind a façade of being strong, her shield that kept her safe and protected her from terrifying feelings.
The Covid lockdowns coincided with a prolonged period of caregiving stress and financial worries. As well as her own health needs, her son needed additional support, and her parents needed to move into care.
Christine was struggling to hold on to life in the present. She was suffering from caregiver burnout. Seeking help meant facing the truth. Life had been traumatically taken from her in the past.
This is an insightful, courageous and ultimately triumphant account of a suicide attempt and her recovery.
About the Author :
Christine Dodson lives in Melbourne, Australia and is married with one son who has multiple disabilities. She graduated in 2006 from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in psychology, and in 2008 she attained a Post-graduate Diploma in Psychology. She has worked as a volunteer telephone counsellor with Griefline.Christine enjoys attending U3A classes, supporting her son's football club, visiting her elderly parents in care and exploring Jnana Yoga.She has always enjoyed writing, finding it good therapy. This is her first book.
Review :
'Behind the Shield' takes us on a mental journey into uncharted territory. The author reveals her most personal thoughts. A must read for those of us endeavouring to understand and empathise with those contemplating suicide."
- Ken Price, author of Broken Lives
"A heartfelt, personal account dealing with mental health issues."
- Vivian Waring, author of When Tears Ran Dry
"Christine Dodson has chronicled her belief that she has been haunted all her life by the pain from a former life, In Behind the Shield, she has carefully set out how this has affected her life, and her consequent battles with depression, insomnia, a child diagnosed with Autism, her aging parent's needs. My hope is that in writing this book, it has helped tame your "demons". To quote you - "Life is worth living. Always."
- Judith Flitcroft, author of Walk Back in Time
