Scared Selfless: My Journey From Abuse And Madness To Surviving And Thriving

Scared Selfless: My Journey From Abuse And Madness To Surviving And Thriving

Product Description Now in paperback, a powerful and inspirational memoir of a shocking and improbable journey from torture to recovery. Michelle Stevens has a photo of the exact moment her childhood was stolen from her: Shes only eight years old, posing for her mothers boyfriend, Gary Lundquist--an elementary school teacher, neighborhood stalwart, and brutal pedophile. Later that night, Gary locks Michelle in a cage, tortures her repeatedly, and uses her to quench his voracious and deviant sexual whims. Little does she know that this will become her new reality for the next six years. Stevens can also pinpoint the moment she reconstituted the splintered pieces of her life: Shes in cap and gown, receiving her Ph.D. in psychology--and the universitys award for best dissertation. The distance between these two points is the improbable journey from torture, loss, and mental illness to healing, recovery, and triumph that is Stevenss powerful memoir, Scared Selfless. In this harrowing tale, Stevens, who was inspired to help others heal by becoming a psychotherapist, sheds light on the all-too-real threat of child sexual abuse, its subsequent psychological effects, and the best methods for victims to overcome their ordeals and, ultimately, thrive. Scared Selfless is both an examination of the extraordinary feats of the mind that are possible in the face of horrific trauma and Stevenss courageous testament to their power. Review In Scared Selfless, Dr. Michelle Stevens takes readers on a remarkable journey. Her account of childhood traumatold with candor and, yes, even witand how she found the strength and resilience to ultimately recover and triumph is an inspiration not just to other survivors, but to us all. The book is a guide for anybody seeking to overcome challenges and lead a richer and fuller life. Arianna Huffington Scared Selfless is a riveting memoir that takes readers on a roller coaster ride from the depths of hell to triumphant success.Michellesextraordinarylife story anddiligent, compassionate work as a therapist teaches us that, with true-grit determination, its possible to overcome the worst adversity.Scared Selflessoffers courage, strength, and resilienceto anyone who desires a better life. Dave Pelzer, author, A Child Called It Scared Selflessis a compelling read about choosing your path in life and owning that decision. Dr. Phil A beautifully written bookwith honesty [and] humorThrough grit and hard work, what begins as Grand Guignol finishes with a big Hollywood ending. --Vanity Fair A testament to hope. People Some books should be read. Dr. Michelle Stevens book must be read. Prepare to cringe, to sob, and to rejoice. This is a captivating yet harrowing read of innocence denied, a childhood obliterated, parental indifference, grotesque and serial predation, psychopathy, and institutional inadequacies. But one has to exhale to be fair, because that is not all. This is a story about the psychological legacy of abuse, the struggle to survive a troubled mind, the challenges of finding elusive help and about finally and triumphantly finding redemption through the most unapologetic example of personal grit Ive ever read. I could not put this book down and neither will you, not if you care about others, not if you care about children. There are heroes and there are giants in this world: Dr. Stevens is both. Joe Navarro, Special Agent (Ret.)and author of Dangerous Personalities Michelle Stevens has written a fierce, honest account of her life that will stay with any reader long after the last page has turned. This book does more to explain what it feels like to live with the effects of trauma than anything Ive ever read. Its the rare book thats both personal and clinical. It should be a resource and an inspiration not just to survivors but to those who love and seek to understand them. Sara Corbett, co-author of A House in the Sky What an as