Through the Unknowable: Family Life with Depression, Alcohol,and Love

by Elsa Campion, Jose Campion McCarthy

From a psychiatrist specialized in helping patients who struggle with depression and drug and alcohol abuse, comes the tremendous and heartbreaking memoir of a doctor who must reexamine the meaning of these same psychological diseases when they strike her own daughter. Now, rather than helping her patients learns the tools of coping and survival, Elsa must look inward and discover this kind of strength and courage within herself. As this brave author fights to employ all of her expertise, motherly love, and endless empathy, she is still left with facing the hardest questions a parent can ask. What do I say to reach my daughter? How do I help her? Can I help her?

Through the Unknowable is an intimate and fiercely honest look inside a family falling apart and a mother who never stops trying to pick up the pieces. This book is a must-read for anyone who knows how it feels to wander through the unknowable.

164 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2012

About the author

This author also writes under the name Jose Campion McCarthy.

Reviews

[Lenore Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsa Campion M.D. reminded me how important it is to see the path we have traveled. It gives us a great insight of how to keep from tripping, falling and being taken over once again. Through the Unknowable is her memoir of family life that deals with depression and alcohol. But wins because of love. Through the Unknowable is an intimate and fiercely honest look inside a family falling apart and a mother who never stops trying to pick up the pieces. This book is a must-read for anyone who knows how it feels to wander through the unknowable. Elsa did all she knew to do as a psychiatrist to help her daughter. She did all she could do as a mother to love her daughter as she went through horrid times. And she shares the healing through the mourning her family and herself went through when they had to let go.

Not all battles are won. But they are worth fighting for. I am glad mine is still here. Fighting by taking my medication daily even though I hate every single pill. Winning by acknowledging that I am happy no matter if my messed up mind tries to tell me I am not at times. I thank Elsa and Vantage Press for sharing with me. It was hard to read. Tears flowed when I was alone in bed taking this all in. I am sorry for Elsa's loss. But so happy she shared the battle with me.

[Kimberly Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking memoir about substance abuse, trauma and the mental health system.