Manuscript on Fighting Depression
Tuesday November 20, 2007
Dear Dr. Miller–
I am finding your work, such as The Truth Will Set You Free, to be extremely helpful to me in understanding the roots of my depression. In revealing the terrible effects of childhood trauma and the importance of learning the truth, your work has been vital in my recovery. I suspected for some time that learning what happened to me and why I fell into depression would be the key to my recovery, and it turns out that’s true, just as you’ve stated repeatedly. Unfortunately, several psychiatrists and psychologists I saw didn’t believe what you believe, and my illness was prolonged as a consequence of misguided treatment.
Another thing I found very helpful was your concept of a “helping witness”, which explained the reason why I was affected much more severely by my father’s alcoholic rages than were my twin sisters, who had each other for support. I had no one.
After doing extensive reading about mood disorders over the past two years, I decided to write a book about what I learned through the course of my journey into depression and the subsequent recovery. In the book I rely heavily on the work of people like yourself (and for example, Charles Whitfield and Terrence Real) to shed light on why a person such as myself fell into depression. As the book traces my experiences, the expert information is applied in a non-technical way in order to explain what happened, which I believe will be very helpful to other victims as they try to understand their own disorders. My book is intended to engage, inform, support and inspire victims. It is titled, Silent Storm: Deconstructing My Depression, a Legacy of Children of Alcoholics.
Depression has turned my life upside-down. As a 20 year veteran in market research with a masters degree from Brown University, I was enjoying a stable, productive career and a fulfilling life overall— until depression struck. I’m determined now to not only take the necessary steps to ensure my own mental health, but also to assist others.
I know this is a long-shot, and I don’t know if you even do this, but I want to ask if you’d consider looking at my manuscript to see if you’d be comfortable making a statement that would provide some credibility and visibility to the book. As a new, unpublished writer (except for several essays), it’s extremely difficult to get attention from publishers. It would be an enormous honor if you did this, and it would help steer victims to what I feel would be a valuable resource for their recovery. My book follows your theme of helping people learn and face the truth about their condition.
My manuscript is currently being reviewed by several publishing houses and literary agents. As a result of my time in market research and marketing, I have a great deal of business writing experience. I currently work as a part-time college instructor.
You have my deepest appreciation for the caring, insightful work that has helped so many.
Thank you, T. G.
AM: Have you also read “The Body Never Lies?” Unfortunately, I am unable to read manuscripts in addition to everything else that I am doing now, but without having read them I can’t endorse them. With your professional experience in market research you may easily find a publisher who will appreciate your manuscript.