Open

Why Asking for Help Can Save Your Life

By: Frankie Bridge, Maleha Khan, Dr Mike McPhillips

Narrated by: Frankie Bridge

Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Sunday Times best seller.

Featuring a new chapter on COVID-19 and mental health.

I lived with it in silence. I tried to conquer it alone. And then I asked for help. It took me hitting hard, sharp rock bottom for me to truly recognise how ill I was.

In Open, Frankie Bridge opens up about her ongoing journey from breakdown to breakthroughs and through self-loathing, hospitalisation and self-acceptance. Part narrative exploration, part guide, this book will help you to understand the importance of talking and helping each other. 

It combines guidance and advice from the psychologist and psychiatrist who pulled her back from the brink along with their notes on her and conversations with her. This book will help people open up about their mental health and encourage us all to speak out.

Afterword by Mind.

©2020 Frankie Bridge, Maleha Khan and Dr Mike McPhillips (P)2020 Octopus Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"Brave and beautiful...a first aid manual for your mind." (Adam Kay, best-selling author of This Is Going to Hurt) 

It’s not just me

I’ve struggled with episodes of anxiety, depression, PTSD,panic attacks and mild OCD throughout my life. I’ve noticed it more in recent years and major/traumatic events and I am struggling currently. Listening to Frankies story makes me reflect and look back and I realise I also think I have these illnesses/tendency’s built in from a young ages, but they become overwhelming and crippling when major life events have happened that are out of my control. I am on the waiting list for CBT and counselling (6 month wait) but listening and taking on board the advice from Frankie and the experts advice has helped me get up out of bed today and understand myself a little bit better knowledge is power! I also am re thinking trying different medications after not getting on well with one type I’ve built my own anxiety around taking them but you’ve made me realise not one size fits all. Thank you for sharing your story Frankie

Highly recommended

Even though I subscribe to audible I often struggle to finish a book and will quite easily quit half through. I can honestly say this was one of the first books I have ever listened to from beginning to end and once I started listening I didn't want to stop. It sounds wrong to say I enjoyed this book given the subject and the many heartbreaking stories it contains but I really did enjoy listening to it and would recommend it to anyone. I fortunately have many good days rather than bad and wouldn't say I am somoene that struggles with an illness. I picked this up to get a better understanding of people that do suffer. This book has given me exactly that. I had no idea who Frankie was or that she was a celebrity and had forged a succesful career as a pop star. I purely selected this with my monthly credit to give it a go and it's one of the best decisions I ever made :)

I will pick up a paper copy asap as I really want to read/listen to it again.

Good luck with the book Frankie, I wish you every success with it.

This book made me feel normal!

After struggling with everything Frankie discusses in the book, almost on the same path as her (just without being a pop star!), I ended up having a breakdown at the end of last year/beginning of this year. Unable to concentrate on reading, I decided to listen to audiobooks to try and give me some focus during my recovery. This is one of the best I’ve listened to and listened to it in two sittings. I can relate to so much Frankie talks about and whilst I’m a similar age to her and was aware of The Saturdays and did often see some quite cruel stories about her in magazines etc, I never knew about her issues with mental health. I came across this book almost by accident and I’m so glad I got a copy. I will definitely be recommending this to others to help them further understand what I go through on a daily basis and what can help.

A really ‘from the heart’ type of book which made me feel more ‘normal’ and not so alone. I had began to feel like I was the only person to suffer with a multitude of mental health issues and felt like there must be something deeply wrong with me, but after listening to this it’s opened my eyes up to the fact that others have - and do - sadly suffer too.

I’ve never actually written a review of a book before, but really felt compelled to write one for this and to recommend it to others who may be feeling the same way. There is absolutely nothing ‘wrong’ with us, we just have a different mind. It’s not one we asked for, but it’s one we have to learn to manage as we negotiate our lives.

Whilst there’s slim chance Frankie will see this review, I just wanted to say a personal thanks to her. I feel more positive about the next stages of my recovery now and whilst I understand these issues will always be there, I feel ready to tackle them to hopefully keep a lid on them for as long as I can, whilst recognising and acknowledging that life isn’t and can never be perfect, regardless of how lucky you are to have the life you do.

Open

A pretty good book, read nicely and a nice touch with other people reading too

Open yourself to this book

Open this book, and your heart and mind to Frankie Bridge's story. She reads it well and speaks from the heart. She offers personal advice and professionals she has worked with contribe too.

Heartbreaking and Heartwarming

Frankie you are a legend for being so open about your continual mental health journey.
I certainly need to take a leaf or two from your book and become open about my own battles!

I loved this book!

I didn't realise how much I needed to hear this book, Frankie's struggles are so relatable to me and it's almost shocking to hear out of another person's mouth! A truly eye opening book and I'm glad I chose to read/listen to it!

Breath of fresh air

So refreshing and honest. I listened in 2 sittings. Made me that I wasn't alone in some of the thoughts I have had. Highly recommend to anyone, whether you have ever felt depressed or anxious or just in general to understand a bit more about mental health. I have sent to lots of friends, some of whom find it difficult to talk about things in the hope that they will know they aren't alone. We need more books like this

A wonderful book!

She sounds so lovely and it really is an honest and open book. Comforting to listen to when you're not feeling yourself

Fantastic book breaking down the barrier and stigma that comes with mental health

Love the book from the moment I began reading it. Such an opener and highlights the importance of reaching out and speaking.