Page 3 of 4
There are currently 26 member reviews
for Zig-Zag Boy
-
Shelby K. (Salem, OR)
Familiar Territory
As a single mother who went through early psychosis intervention with my son at fifteen, leading up to a diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia, I often have wondered how would we navigate this if he'd been older and had a taste of independence, if I'd had other children or a partner to balance, and this is definitely a variation of that story. So many little things throughout the book rang true for my lived experience, it was at times very painful to read, yet I'm glad I did. Also she makes me want to get involved in a NAMI group for families, peer to peer support is so valuable for both the consumer and the support.
-
Tracy N. (San Rafael, CA)
Zig-Zag Boy
Zig-Zag Boy is a mother's love letter to her son who has psychosis.
As a mother who also has a son who struggles with mental illness, I understand this memoir of grief. One cannot judge how far you will go as a mother but Tanya Frank gives us her journey.
The sacrifices she makes unfortunately effects her and the rest of her family.
Her story demonstrates how a mental illness is complicated by the lack of
mental health care and resources. Yet, I hesitate to criticize the author because there is no blueprint for how to parent a psychotic young adult but it was hard to understand Tanya's decisions sometimes.
Another issue I had with the memoir was the organization. The flow of the memoir was interrupted by Frank's jump's from Zach's psychosis to her earlier marriage, then moving to Los Angeles
From London, back to psychosis and birthing.
This is an important book because it shines a light on the lack of resources for the mentally ill. The scarcity of resources puts pressure on the family to provide the cohesion and interventions needed to help their loved one. The other pain was watching her young adult son refuse care when he so desperately needed it. Frank is a tireless advocate for her son.
-
Joanne W. (Ossining, NY)
A mother's story
Zig Zag Boy is the author's moving account of her son's severe mental illness journey.
Zach grows up as a sensitive, intelligent younger brother. For unexplained reasons he begins to have paranoid thoughts and starts hearing voices. She describes their entry into the diagnosis and medical treatment phase of his illness. This is the beginning of a frightening and exhausting journey. There are moments of hope but mostly it is sad and very lonely. Her life becomes consumed with taking care of, as best as she can, her adult son.
The book highlights the struggles and challenges of caring for someone with severe mental illness. It clearly illustrates how unequipped our society continues to be to give adequate care. It shows the strain on families and other relationships. This is not a book that gives false hope. This is an honest portrait of her experience in dealing with a sick son in a very difficult environment. It is short and very readable. I finished in two days. I recommend to anyone interested in family drama and mental illness.
-
Juli B. (Prosper, TX)
Searching for Resilience
Tanya Frank willingly adapted a mother's warrior spirit when her nineteen-year-old son Zach experienced a psychotic episode. Searching for answers through the health care systems of 2 separate countries only confirmed that mental illness is an incredibly complex genre of disease processes which are still largely misunderstood, often misdiagnosed, and commonly treated in so many varying ways that the journey becomes almost impossible to endure. Yet our author points out that many impaired individuals have no choice but to accept treatment as experimental regimens, searching to find a neutral zone where daily life can be maintained without the constant interference of combative symptoms. There is no one-size-fits-all cure. The battle of mental illness is horrific for the individual and just as harrowing for their loved ones watching and wanting to intervene, to shelter, and care for the vulnerable souls searching for a peaceful existence. Tanya Frank admits to being "weary with an uppercase W" and readers will feel much the same angst following along as her brutally honest words describe the challenges faced by Zach, the family members who strive to help him, and the medical professionals who are doing their best given the ever-evolving research and development of new protocols to provide relief for tortured minds. Describing Zach she writes, "it is no wonder that he is often unable to put one foot in front of the other, that he lies down on the spot wherever he is, because being human and upright is unbearable." A powerfully written visual that many readers will find difficult to digest and yet this slim volume is filled with many such heartbreaking scenes. The material might be triggering for the unprepared reader, but for others seeking validation of their own journeys, this memoir is full of honesty and "sadness—so strangely comforting" which indeed is one of the author's intentions.
-
Darlene G. (Allegany, NY)
Hopeful In the Face of Broken Systems and Competing Needs
I am glad I read this book. I think it would be especially useful to people who are in relationship with people experiencing severe mental health issues. The author does a beautiful job conveying the competing needs to respect autonomy and to insure care for an adult child with mental health challenges while trying to care for themselves. It is not new news that the U.S. and UK mental health systems are inadequate, and in many ways broken. Yet, experiencing them through this specific mother's and son's common and divergent needs was heart-breaking and eye-opening. There are no easy answers, and this book doesn't pretend there are. Yet it left this reader hopeful.
-
Kathy (southern ME)
Honest and Unsparing Memoir
Zig Zag Boy is Tanya Frank's story of her son's psychotic break at age 19 and the years that follow as they come to terms with his ongoing psychosis. As a mother, the portions of the book that focus on her and her son, and their relationship, are visceral and heart-wrenching. Frank is unsparing in discussing their battles with health care providers and insurance in both the U.S. and England, her son Zach's turmoil on antipsychotic meds and the difficulties he faces when unmedicated, the struggle in getting an accurate (or at least consistent) diagnosis, and their forays into conventional and alternative medicines and treatments. I also appreciated that Frank doesn't shy away from talking about their friends and family, and how other relationships and facets of their lives change significantly, sometimes irreparably. And while Frank's whole-hearted love and adoration for her son shine throughout, this does not inoculate her from caregiver burnout and fatigue.
Interspersed throughout the book are passages about nature and elephant seals. While these portions are interesting, they are not as strong or as captivating as the more personal anecdotes. Overall this is a strong and compassionate memoir that provides an open and honest look at mental illness and its concomitants.
-
Susan H. (Mount Kisco, NY)
How did this happen ??
For a mom nothing is worse than seeing your child ill and hurting but it is whole different story when you cant see the illness, give the child a pill or a hug to help the child heal in a timely manner. Mental illness is frightening and it is hard not to blame yourself for what's happening to your child - if only i did .... better, differently, been a stronger role model of not had that drink . these are some of the feelings and thoughts that zach's mom feels when her son has what is called a psychotic break at 19 year sold. the book does a good job of describing the havoc that the entire family goes thru dealing with all the unknowns, doctors, hospital stays, trouble in the relationship between the mom and her wife, the siblings etc. This book does a very good job of describing the hell of the mysteries of mental illness
.png)
