She's Not Herself

A Psychotherapist's Journey into and Beyond Her Mother's Mental Illness

By: Linda Appleman Shapiro

Narrated by: Linda Appleman Shapiro, George Guidall

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

On the surface, her childhood seemed normal - even idyllic. Linda grew up in the iconic immigrant community of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, with her parents and a gifted older brother. But she spent her days at home alone with a mother who suffered major bouts of depression. At such times, young Linda was told, "Your mother...she’s not herself today." Those words did little to help Linda understand what she was witnessing. Instead, she experienced the anxiety and hyper-vigilance that often take root when secrecy and shame surround a family member who is ill.

She’s Not Herself is a journey to make sense of the effects of multigenerational traumas. Shapiro is ultimately able to forgive (without forgetting) those who left her to fend for herself - and to provide listeners with the wisdom of a seasoned psychotherapist who has examined human vulnerability in its many disguises and has moved through it all with dignity and hope. The result is a memoir of love, loss, loyalty, and healing.

©2014 Linda Appleman Shapiro (P)2021 Linda Appleman Shapiro

The author's voice brought this story to life!

This audiobook opens up with the exquisite voice of prolific narrator George Guidall. After his introduction, Linda Appleman Shapiro picks up as the narrator in her beautiful calming voice. It's such a pleasure to listen to a memoir told by the actual author and to hear the story with all the emotions and sincerity that it was written in.

By any outsider looking in, Linda Appleman Shapiro had an idealic childhood growing up in Brooklyn with her beautiful parents and brilliant older brother. But, Linda opens her heart and shares the true pain, chaos and love inside her home in this captivating story of her life. In vulnerable plain talk, Linda peels away the layers of her mother's traumatic childhood in Russia and immigration to the United States. Putting up a good front like so many of us do, her mother's sporadic mental health crisis throughout Linda's childhood remained hidden inside their home, silently impacting Linda as a young girl.

Aside from a captivating story, I learned much about the lack of mental health care just one generation ago, helping me to better understand events in my own childhood - which like Linda, weren't talked about.

The way Linda ultimately made a wonderful life for herself as an adult is an inspiration for us all, and her comforting voice made this audiobook feel like a talk with a good friend - making this Audible a must listen to!

Absolutely Beautiful Narration

I was absolutely amazed by this memoir. Linda Appleman Shapiro did such a lovely job writing about a difficult childhood that she ultimately sees as being a gift.

The fact she can describe her mother's mental illness and how it effected the entire family (included her attempts at suicide) and come out of the situation with the strength and perseverance to consider it a gift is the true gift! Shapiro's ability to engage me as a reader and draw me into a time period and a story so foreign to my upbringing really kept me wanting more.

I read the book years ago and was moved and inspired by it - most recently I listened to it on Audible and it was an even more emotional experience. The Audible version was narrated by the author herself (just before her 80th birthday) as well as her husband, the king of audio books, George Guidall himself!

When reading this book, I was impressed with Shapiro's ability to put into words what must have been such a difficult period in her life. Listening to the book being read by Shapiro herself quite often moved me to tears. I don't want anyone to think this is a sad story - because ultimately, Shapiro went on to help so many others because of her resilient spirit.

When I read or hear the quote "My Trauma Does Not Define Me" I think immediately of Linda Appleman Shapiro and how she has managed to be a light in the darkness.

I absolutely give "She's Not Herself" 5 stars as a written book and 10 stars as an audio book!