Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com welcomes as a guest,
Sheryl J. Stevens, Author of Operation Soul Recovery (From Default To Purpose).
Good day Sheryl and thank you for agreeing to participate in our interview.
Norm:
Sheryl,
could you tell our readers something about yourself and what motivated
you to write Operation Soul Recovery (From Default To Purpose)?
Sheryl:
Throughout my life I've been faced with mental illness at many different levels, involving my parents and other family members.
While never discussed, their quiet desperation kept inside was at
times apparent, even though outwardly, they were able to lead honorable,
hard-working lives.
The stable nurturing environment of the whole
community seemed to overrule anything bad or unpleasant. Consequently,
my childhood was one of contentment, until I left that part of my life.
Afterwards, I also struggled with anxiety and depression, seeking help
from many sources, though failed to find it.
There was no choice, other than learning to live with the conflicts, and expand my knowledge of the disorders.
When
my youngest daughter was 14, her battle with depression began. It
manifested first as bulimia, then escalating to other addictions and
destructive behaviours, including numerous suicide attempts.
Over a
period of 20 years, she likewise sought help from all that was
available--countless in-patient and out-patient treatments,
anti-depressants, counselling, 12-step programs, religious experiences,
without any lasting results.
During Kelly's struggle, my desire to
understand the baffling power of addiction and mental illness
intensified. Pain, in many forms, became the driving force to continue,
which led to realizing that my daughter was far from an isolated case
in the failure to find effective treatment. In fact, millions are
struggling within the hopelessness of the 'systems' with no end in
sight.
At one point in the process, I witnessed an extra-ordinary
Vision. It was filled with many of my own learning experiences,
including a number of parallels to the gentle farm community. I
immediately realized, along with wisdom far beyond my awareness that it
all clearly came into focus. Amazing, yet basic, it was a phenomenon
that I knew for certain could heal the hearts and minds of desperate
people everywhere.
Although, the difficulty was putting the
picture into words in order that others would understand, I felt
compelled to find a way to describe it. I finally succeeded.
Thereafter, the Vision became the central motivation to write the book.
Norm:
What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book?
Sheryl:
Gathering
my thoughts is often a challenge in itself, even though writing has
always been my best means of expression. In this case the subject
matter was at times very emotionally draining, trying to find words that
best described the various ideas I felt were important.
The
biggest obstacle I faced was fear that the book would be rejected. What
I've noticed throughout my journey is that most people are afraid to
even think "outside the box", even though some of the best things in
life are beyond all rigid confinements. And this book is definitely
outside the box.
Most of it was actually written before September
11th but I allowed the fear of failure to keep me from finishing it
until that jolting moment, which became my resolve to complete the book.
I realized that I'd lived way too much of my life trying to please
people, as though the crumbs of love were better than none at all. But
it hadn't worked well. I knew it was time to face the fear and write
straight from the heart.
Norm:
How do you plan to market your book and is there a particular audience you wish to target?
Sheryl:
So
far I've been playing it by ear, sending press releases through
distribution services, as well as using them as promotional material I
send personally or email to other potential sources and individuals.
One
of my next projects will be emailing a letter along with the latest
news release (April 21) to 40+ members of Congress to find out what
their response or level of support might be, if any.
Obtaining
reviews is another quest. I've now received several with 5-star
ratings, which is very encouraging. The book is also entered in 3
different categories with Nautilus Book Awards 2005 in New York on June
2.
I recently ordered John Kremer's book 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. I'm new at this and need all the good advice I can get.
To
classify the audience is a bit difficult--perhaps Mental Health
professionals, Religious/Spiritual leaders and followers, Non-profit
Organizations.
But most of all Dreamers, Visionaries, those who
think big, fearless of challenges, and are passionate about changing our
troubled world. The question is, where do you find them? I might add
that Operation Soul Recovery is also in the process of being established
as a non-profit organization.
Norm:
I once asked a relative
of mine, who is a Psychiatrist, what in his estimate has been the
biggest advancement in the treatment of mental illness? His reply was
the invention of the tranquillizer. Would you care to comment?
Sheryl:
Personally,
I've tried many anti-anxiety and anti-depressants over the years, but
found the side effects to be much worse than dealing with the negative
feelings without medication.
I have also watched my daughter, under doctors' care and
prescription go through horrific experiences while on certain
medications.
However presently she is on 6 different kinds, which altogether
appear to be somewhat helpful. Although over time, one or more of them
lose their effect, then its back to square one again trying to find
balance.
I acknowledge that some people do benefit from certain
drug therapies; however there seem to be more who do not, or at least
don't find lasting success. I am most concerned about the extreme
cases, for example Andrea Yates who killed her five children, or
Christopher Pittman, the 12-year old who killed his grandparents. They
were both afflicted with mental disorders, though the crimes they
committed were completely out of character for their personalities.
Also both of them were under the influence of anti-depressants for quite
some time before, and during the incidents.
Who will ever know
what part the medications played in these tragedies, and countless
others we never hear about? Perhaps because the power of the drug
companies (and the rest of the system) will never let it be known?
Another
consideration is that Americans are notorious for being an impatient,
pill-popping society. We want a quick fix for everything from headaches
to depression, not to mention the thousands of other advertisements
that promise to make our lives better. So we believe them, and buy
them, because we're also gullible. When it comes to mental and emotional
disorders it seems that the 'wonder drugs' in most cases, are simply
dealing with the symptoms and not the underlying causes.
Furthermore,
if pills really were the magic cure, why is mental illness continually
rising to shocking levels, while the use of anti-depressants has tripled
in the past decade? Yet until there is a complete transformation in
the treatment of mind and spirit disorders, there will be those who
actually need them, and those who at least believe they have found
relief in them.
Norm:
Do you have any statistics as to the percentage of individuals in the USA who suffer from one kind or another of mental disease?
Sheryl:
According
to the National Mental Health Association, almost 20% of Americans
admittedly suffer from some form of mental illness.
Indeed, mental illnesses are now more common than cancer, diabetes,
or heart disease. Due to the hidden nature of these diseases, one can
only imagine that to include those who are in denial, the percentage
would be considerably higher.
Also the National Center for
Workforce Disability confirms that mental illness is fast becoming the
leading cause of disabilities. A recent NMHA women's survey revealed
that women found depression to be a greater obstacle to professional
success than other barriers such as child- and elder care
responsibilities, pregnancy and sexual harassment.
Another NMHA survey stated that the U.S. loses $113 Billion annually
from untreated and mistreated mental illness. These are merely a few
of the grim statistics.
Norm:
What do you feel are the most pronounced shortcomings of the health system in the USA in the treatment of mental illness?
Sheryl:
I
think the core of the shortcomings in the system boils down to the lack
of money and resources available to obtain adequate treatment.
The
vast majority of those suffering from addiction and/or mental illness
cannot afford the high cost of psychotherapy, medications, and the more
prominent treatment centers that have greater success rates.
If
the people in need are fortunate enough to even have insurance, and many
do not, the insurance companies are largely unwilling to bear the
burden as they do in physical ailments, by refusal to recognize these
disorders with the seriousness they deserve.
The next possibility
is to meet the criteria for public assistance, which automatically
excludes another huge group of people, whose options have suddenly
become none. So the remainder, who are in a sense rewarded for owning
nothing, are able to reap some benefit at the mercy of the state.
The
problem there is that funding for these programs (treatment centers and
out-patient therapies) is continually being slashed and weakened by the
ignorance of political forces, until these remedial means have
significantly lost their effectiveness.
Due to the enormous
overload of needy people and the understaffed, underpaid workers in
these facilities, the chances of getting the kind of treatment necessary
for successful recovery is utterly grim.
Consequently, a great
number of those who fall into the latter category remain locked in the
system, unable to find the help they need, thus unable to move forward
with their lives. Seemingly unaware of the plight of the entire
situation, they continue going back to treatment many times over, only
too often to reinforce the ever-mounting failure syndrome, believing it
is their fault when it is most likely not.
I have spoken with
mental health-care counsellors, since writing the book, who are in total
agreement with the evaluation of the 'system' as I see it, if not more
so. They are the ones who, on a daily basis, are faced with the
overwhelming misery of the people, and are very aware of the little time
they are able to give each individual. They feel as though their hands
are tied, while the burnout period for them also becomes shorter due to
the depressing situation.
The whole system, as it is, seems like a
waste of everyone's time and money, along with the proof that 2nd rate
health-care or none at all is far more costly than 1st rate. Certainly
this is the case in the treatment of mental illness.
Norm:
What has been the reward to you in writing your book?
Sheryl:
The
greatest reward in writing the book was being able to create an
expression on a subject that has burned in my heart for decades, much
like putting together the many pieces of a puzzle.
For so many
years, what seemed like millions of thoughts and feelings kept churning
around inside, to the point I was unsure they could ever be sorted out.
Even
though the book reflects merely highlights of what I feel, it was
enough to relieve the pressure of trying to contain the passion.
Furthermore it wasn't the quantity of words on each concept that was
important to me, but that many ideas were brought to light. Until at
last I could comfortably say "I've done my best--the picture is
finished"! However challenging, the reward was immeasurable.
Norm:
Have you used the Internet in your research, and do you intend to use the Internet in promoting your book?
Sheryl:
Yes,
I do use the Internet for research, although my computer skills are
somewhat limited and I find the overwhelming amount of information to be
rather daunting at times.
I often watch Larry King Live on CNN
and other talk shows such as Oprah that are relevant to my interests,
where I've obtained many excellent sources of information from various
guests. Most of them have web sites, which I usually refer to
afterwards.
I also read a lot of books (or used to that is) and I
am an avid people watcher and listener. Learning is everywhere we turn
in this day and age. I now spend a great deal of time on the Internet
promoting my book in one way or another, always looking for new methods
and ideas.
Norm:
Are there any other ideas or thoughts you wish to share with our audience that you have not been covered?
Sheryl:
The
book is only the beginning of the reward I hope to see. Its objective
is not a self-help book of ideas to be implemented here and there; nor
is it meant to be just a story about my daughter, or about me and my
beliefs to draw empathy for either one of us; nor is it intended to
simply bash the many current attitudes and systems as a citizen's right
of freedom, to end there. Instead it is a straightforward call for
attention and action to an enormous problem with a hopeful solution.
I
regard the key to healing mental illness as first of all getting back
to basics that consists of many factors including reconnection with the
inner-child where our finest resources lie. Without this foundation
there is nothing solid to build on.
I was blessed in countless
ways for which I am most thankful, and chose to share a small portion of
them in the book. I also meant to point out that a safe and secure
childhood is no guarantee that we will live happily ever after. It
didn't happen to me, but it did remain a constant source of strength
I
believe that sometimes God allows us to wander in the wilderness of
human suffering in order for a higher purpose to be accomplished. In
this case it doesn't matter who I am, only that "Any idea constantly
held before the mind MUST come into existence." Yet the Vision cannot
manifest into reality by its eyewitness alone, no matter how passionate.
I
am well aware of my limitations, likewise strengths. It will take many
able, influential, visionaries, lots of prayers and careful
organization, and more than volunteers to empower the Plan into
existence. Would it be worth it? Absolutely! America needs this Place
desperately, ultimately in every locality. My hope and prayer is that
this small book will begin to ignite a forest fire that's unstoppable!
