Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn't Over

by Amy Bleuel

For fans of PostSecret , Humans of New York , and If You Feel Too Much , this collection from suicide-awareness organization Project Semicolon features stories and photos from those struggling with mental illness.

Project Semicolon began in 2013 to spread a message of No one struggling with a mental illness is alone; you, too, can survive and live a life filled with joy and love. In support of the project and its message, thousands of people all over the world have gotten semicolon tattoos and shared photos of them, often alongside stories of hardship, growth, and rebirth.

Project Your Story Isn't Over reveals dozens of new portraits and stories from people of all ages talking about what they have endured and what they want for their futures. This represents a new step in the movement and a new awareness around those who struggle with mental illness and those who support them. At once heartfelt, unflinchingly honest, and eternally hopeful, this collection tells a story of every day you choose to live and let your story continue on. Learn more about the project at www.projectsemicolon.com.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Health, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health, Memoir

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

After overcoming many obstacles in her life including bullying, rejection, suicide, self-injury, addiction, abuse and even rape, Amy has found strength and a love for others. Amy struggled with mental illness for 20+ years and has experienced many stigmas associated with it. She now shares her stories around the nation giving hope to others struggling with mental illness.

"Despite the wounds of a dark past I was able to rise from the ashes, proving that the best is yet to come. When my life was filled with the pain of rejection, bullying, suicide, self-injury, addiction, abuse and even rape, I kept on fighting. I didn't have a lot of people in my corner, but the ones I did have kept me going. In my 20 years of personally struggling with mental health I experienced many stigmas associated with it. Through the pain came inspiration and a deeper love for others. God wants us to love one another despite the label we wear. I do pray my story inspires others. Please remember there is hope for a better tomorrow."

If you need help right now, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

Reviews

[Christine Spoors · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad for disliking this book but, despite the book saying it is spreading messages of hope, I found that it was the complete opposite. I feel so down and hopeless after reading this and would be far too worried to recommend this to anyone I know with mental health struggles.

Trigger Warnings: Basically everything. Every kind of abuse, eating disorders, suicide, depression, anxiety, self-harm. This book is filled with sad stories about hardship and terrible things happening so I can't think of all the triggers.

I am sure for some people this book may be helpful. It's amazing to read an essay and see that someone is going through the same thing that you are. However, this book is 250+ essays about "hardship and hope" with the majority being about 80% hardship and 20% hope. In many stories the hopeful part was a sentence or two at the end, which just made me feel more and more down as the book progressed.

Project Semicolon has helped so many people, so I feel guilty for giving this a bad review, but I must be honest. It made me miserable, if I'd been in a bad space mentally I hate to think how I would have felt after reading it. I am not sure if Project Semicolon is a Christian organisation, but a lot of the stories talked about God as what helped them, so if you are not religious (like me) you read about these heartbreaking stories and then get no message of hope at the end.

Researching this book I see that Amy Bleuel, the person who started Project Semicolon, committed suicide earlier this year, which is so heartbreaking. She touched so many lives and this book is proof of that, it's filled with semicolon tattoo's which was wonderful to see.

I wish I could say that this reading experience filled me with hope and love but I just feel tired and upset.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't take anything else away from this review, please know:
* You are not alone
* There is help available
* You deserve it. Yep, even you! 😃

If you need immediate help and you live in Australia, please contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. If your life is in danger, please call 000.

The note at the beginning of Project Semicolon says it much better than I could ...

"WARNING: If you suffer from suicidal ideation or mental illness, some of the stories that follow may trigger an adverse reaction. If you feel this kind of content may be triggering, we advise that you consider not reading this book. And if you do read and a story is beginning to upset you, please stop reading immediately."

There are a multitude of potential triggers in this book. They include suicide, grief, mental illness, self harm, bullying, abuse, addiction, eating disorders, and plenty of family dysfunction. If you're looking for a hopeful, lovely read, this is not the book for you. If you want to gain understanding about what leads to someone wanting to take their own life or what life is like for the friends and family members of those who have, this is the one. This is a super duper important book.

Whoever you are and whatever your background, please be safe while reading this book. It's full of people courageously sharing some of the most difficult life experiences anyone can go through. There is hope but there's more pain. This is an upsetting book. There's no way it can't be.

I would have personally preferred for there to be fewer stories but more detail in this book. Often I felt like the stories were written with a focus on the pain and ended with either the writer saying things have or haven't improved but I would have liked for there to have been a greater focus on the steps in the journeys that helped each individual. While no book is a substitute for medical advice or counselling, I feel it would have been useful for people looking for hope in their own lives to be able to clearly identify what worked for each writer so they could implement the tools that they feel may be beneficial to them in their own lives.

If you need support after reading any part of it, please reach out for it. The best first contact I can suggest (besides your local suicide hotline or emergency number) is your local doctor. I personally have two GP's that are unsung heroes in my life. Your local doctor knows your medical history (physical and psychological) and can offer support and guidance that's suitable for your situation. They can prescribe medication should you need it. They can refer you to the right service for you to get the help you deserve, whether that's a counsellor, support group or any number of other services that you probably aren't even aware of in your community.

I'd recommend making a long appointment so your doctor and you have the time needed to spend on coming up with a plan that will help you in the short or long term. Your local doctor has likely heard it all before (many times) and you won't be telling them anything that will shock them. If you're too embarrassed to say what you need to then write it down and hand it to your doctor or read from it. In all likelihood they'll be supportive and proud of you for taking the first step in getting help. If your doctor isn't supportive then by all means try another and another until you find one that will help you.

I accidentally came across Project Semicolon on social media several years ago. When I read that the semicolon was chosen because in literature a semicolon is used when an author continues a sentence rather than ending it, I loved the symbolism and it's stayed with me.

I liked seeing all of the various semicolon inspired tattoos scattered through the book. While I don't have any permanent tattoos, I adore them and always have a variety of the temporary kind on hand whenever the whim comes to decorate or express myself. I do have a stack of semicolon tattoos and use them whenever I'm going through a difficult time to remind myself that I've gotten through difficult times before and I'll get through this one too. I find it's a subtle but effective visual reminder.

When I'm struggling with whatever I'm facing, I remind myself that my story is not over yet and that simple reminder has never failed to provide me strength. In the midst of emotional or physical pain it can be difficult to see past it and remember that it hasn't always been like this. One of the things I've discovered over the years is that everything is temporary.

I've had times where I was certain I'd never smile again and when I look back on those times now it hardly seems like I'm the same person who felt that way. I've had a number of the triggers in this book as my triggers over the years and some of those are no longer triggers, and those that are don't trigger me with the same intensity or frequency that they once did.

I look back at 15 year old me who had already attempted suicide three times and I want to go back and tell her all of the things she'll miss out on in the future if she doesn't survive. Not wanting to sound facetious, but can you imagine the books I would have missed out on reading over the past 20 odd years and how many I plan to read in the future?! And that's just one thing I would've missed out on! I think of a primary school friend who seemed to have it all yet died by suicide in her early 20's. I want to give her a huge hug and say that one thing, whatever it would have been, that would have meant things would have turned out differently for her and her family.

I promise you, nothing stays the same. Things can, and do, get better. There is someone who will understand you and your situation. You do have what it takes to recover, whatever that looks like to you.

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am really stumped on how to review this. First I will say a major trigger warning for suicide as well as depression, anxiety, self harm, eating disorders, and many more.

Now I appreciate what this was trying to do but in my opinion the execution was poorly done. So, this is non-fiction filled with over 250+ stories of people who have attempted suicide and/or know someone who has attempted or committed suicide. Now this was repetitive and of course I do NOT mean to disrespect anyone and their story. Each page was a very similar story with a photo with the same tattoo. It just got repetitive and I understand that everyones story is different but they were all written the same, with the same writing style, the same tattoo, etc.

This book is super sad... obviously. I honestly don't know what they were trying to do by being so repetitive with each page. This book caused me a lot of anxiety and a lot of feelings and emotions to resurface, be aware of how triggering this book is.

I just really don't know exactly how I feel about this, I think it could have really been done a lot better. I am glad that there is a trigger warning and the beginning of this book and a list of helplines and resources in the back.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I feel reading Project Semicolon this month and reviewing it is perfect timing!

Amy Bleuel started Project Semicolon in 2013 to give hope and love for those who are struggling with mental illness, suicide, addiction, and self-injury. The semicolon is used because in literature it is intended to continue a sentence versus ending it. Using the semicolon, you show that you are choosing to continue on despite your situation. This is a symbol with so much meaning!

Project Semicolon is a non-fiction book that is comprised of many individual stories in their own words. These stories range from a few sentences to several pages. Some stories give details of their lives, some just touch on issues. It does begin with a disclaimer/trigger warning that these stories could affect you if you have suffered and advises to stop reading if this occurs. At the end of the book is various organizations’ information on who to contact if you feel you need assistance.

Project Semicolon is a book you do not have to read in its entirety, but you should and I did. It is a difficult read and one I took in steps to read. You can feel the anguish that all the authors have in sharing their stories. Some of the stories are ‘In Memoriam’, with those sharing stories after losing someone to suicide. I recommended reading all of Project Semicolon as the stories that touched me the most were in the second half of the book. The stories that affected me the most were:
Teresa S (page 256)
Hayleigh H (page 280)
Kristie C (Page 307)
(All were In Memoriam stories)

In addition to the stories shared, there are photos of the semicolon tattoo in its various forms throughout the book that are the storytellers’ own tattoos. That gives each story an even more personal touch. I would have liked more details in some of the stories: Some are so brief we don’t learn much about the person’s story. Some stories felt incomplete (which they of course could be as they may still be facing their monsters) and some felt impersonal and like an essay. I would have liked to learned more on their journeys and what helped them succeed.

Project Semicolon does also include Amy’s story in her own words. Despite starting Project Semicolon, Amy lost her battle with these issues on March 23, 2017 at the age of 31. Her legacy continues as Project Semicolon is still around helping those who need it today. Here is an article I found that address Amy’s death and how complex suicide prevention is. https://themighty.com/2017/03/project...

Amy’s story is here in her own words: https://story.projectsemicolon.com/20...

Project Semicolon is definitely worth a read and is a great organization that is devoted to helping others overcome their battles they face. If you feel you need help please get it. You ARE worth it and your story isn’t over!

https://projectsemicolon.com/

[Angela Blount · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonfi...

"Stay Strong. Love endlessly. Change lives." --Amy Bleuel

This suicide and mental illness awareness collection is made up of both survival testimonials and memorial accounts of those enduring the pain of a lost loved one. The range of writing length and ability here is widely variable. Some have contributed as little as a small paragraph—and some up to 3 full pages. Accompanying most of these stories is a picture of each author’s semicolon tattoo. (This being in reference to international movement that has adopted the symbol.)

“A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you, and the sentence is your life,” explains Project Semicolon’s website.

To be clear up front, I chose this book for review because The Semicolon Project has meant a great deal to me. It’s a supportive, affirming community I would have loved to see available when I was still an early-to-mid teenager—in a very vulnerable and precarious state of mental health. Its message is one I endorse wholeheartedly. So much so, over a year ago I received a semicolon tattoo on my left hand to remind myself and to stand in solidarity. I share this to put in better context what I mean when I say I sincerely wish I had been able to give this collection a higher rating.

I’m afraid I have to concur with those who've pointed out there's not a lot of "hope" to be found in many of these stories. Most do try to wrap up on a positive-sounding note. But there's often just a sentence at the end that sounds like a "hang-in-there" pep talk, without really offering a how-to in that regard. Some close with merely an "I'm still alive" sort of observation. I don't want to diminish anyone's struggle—please don't misunderstand. But I have to wonder if many of these stories weren't a bit premature in their public release.

Even the founder of the Semi-Colon Project, Amy Bleuel, had an incomplete-feeling story (which she shares at the very beginning of the compilation.) In it she alludes to the physical, mental, and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her step-mother--after her parents divorced and she chose to live with her father at age 6. At age 8 she attempted to physically defend herself from her stepmother and was taken away, placed in the juvenile justice system. Her biological mother was the one who came for her. She then spent age 13-18 within the Wisconsin juvenile justice system. Yet, she dedicated the Semi-Colon Project and this book to her father—who killed himself while she was still a teenager (further adding to her trauma.) I’ve read her account several times, but am still perplexed as to why she chose to bestow such honor on the man who married an abusive woman and who, from what few details we’re given, seems to have failed to protect his daughter. I’m certain there must be more to her story that could help me understand. But whatever that information may be, it’s not offered in the current incarnation of her autobiographical essay.

-----------------
Content Notes:

*The language use is sometimes raw, but well within context rather than gratuitous.

*There’s such a heartbreaking consistency to so many of these stories—histories of devastating childhood abuse, and of rape-induced trauma. While the details are kept mercifully vague, many of these accounts are still likely to be triggering for those who haven’t yet reached a stable place in their journey toward healing.

*For a large swath of those who seemed to be writing from a “good place,” finding a supportive significant other is marked as the turning point in their personal battle. I’m concerned this crediting may inadvertently serve to encourage more impressionable young readers into seeking out romantic relationships steeped in codependency.

*I'm dismayed at the reviewers who’ve rated this collection poorly because they didn't wish to encounter any stories of struggle or overcoming that make mention of personal faith. For the record, maybe 1/6 accounts allude to a belief in any form of "higher-power," and for the vast majority of those, it's a simple one-sentence nod of acknowledgement.
-------------------

I did want to take a moment to recognize the stories that felt particularly complete, and/or struck me personally as impactful: Jana A., Lisa A., K.T., Cassidy F., Aaron P., Rebecca H., and Kevin S. -- For whatever reason, their writing and conveyance resonated enough to make this reader want to dog-ear. Most contributors, I'm sure, wrote bravely for a cathartic outlet. But these I’ve listed... I wish my younger self had been able to read their works.

Favorite Quote:
"Sometimes, I feel like a dung beetle.
(I kno, but hear me out.)
What starts out as the tiniest piece of crap gets rolled around in my mind until it's the biggest load of bullshit ever. Sometimes, this accidentally rolls over other people and ruins relationships, but mostly, it stops me from being able to see my way forward." --Kevin. S.

[Mary]

This was a tough book to read--it took me over two months to take in the scores of personal stories of people who suffer anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health conditions. Many of the stories reveal the hard fought victory toward continuing--hence the semicolon--the story continues. Some of the stories are tributes about loved ones who died after a suicide attempt. Photographs of semicolon tattoos are interspersed throughout. No one could read about the lives of these contributors without growing in compassion for those with mental illnesses. I hope that readers who suffer will find hope in the kindred spirits who found help and strength to carry on.

[Gina Kirby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book - but I felt that the execution of it was flawed. It felt heavily edited and stories started to run together as if they were written by the same person, over and over again.

[Mare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly hopeful and relatable. Those who have said it lacked hope may not be as close to suicidal ideation, self harm, and mental illness as those of us who are and have stories to share with others. I’m glad I bought and read this book. Each story makes me feel less alone. Recommend reading for those who feel alone, hopeless, and don’t know where to turn.

Stay with us.

[Payton (Payton's Book Thoughts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of stories is absolutely amazing and completely worth the money.

I saw some reviews saying it put the reader is such a horrible mood and it made them down and sad. But I wanted to make sure I posted a review stating otherwise.

This book pulled me out of a horrible depression I was struggling with for many, many months. It had been sitting on my shelf for a few months before something just told me to pick it up. This book gave me so much hope.

I won’t go into too much about my personal situations but this book spoke to me on a different level. It made me realize that I’m not the only one that feels this way and if people who have had/still have it worse than me can find their way back to the light, then I could too.

While reading everyone’s stories I decided to mark the things I related to or found inspiring with tabs so that I could go back to them whenever I needed to. What I wasn’t expecting was how many things I would mark.

This book is such a wonderful collection of people’s will and fight to survive, even in the situations where someone suffering couldn’t take it anymore. They still left someone behind that fights in their honor.

If there’s nothing else you take from this book, you can take away that you are not alone. There is a support system out there for you, even if you don’t realize it. Never be afraid to ask for help.

To all the people that suffer in silence, I am one of you. I hope you find the strength to keep on fighting. Your story isn’t over and neither is mine.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it only took me 11 months to finish Project Semicolon. It was an emotional roller coaster filled with heart wrenching stories.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone and anyone.

It’s truly amazing!

Although I couldn’t put down every single story in my review from the book, here are some that really stuck out to me.

"Because I swear that in my darkest times, there was always a spark of hope and a breath of life." - Maude P.


"You do not get over it, you work through it." - Karen V.


"But I guess when all your world does is fall, you quickly learn how to stand strong." - Colleen G.


"I celebrate being alive.
I celebrate who I am.
I thought I'd never be able to say that,
But I can now, and I like it." - Rachael K.


"I can beat this Darkness." - Danielle C.


"After all, you are still a badass superhero, even if the only person you ever save is yourself." - Alicia R.


"I remind myself that it's good to be the sun, shining my light for others, but sometimes it's okay to be the sunflower- soaking up the light I can't make on my own." - Jana A.


“I had accepted that while my armor didn’t shine anymore, it could withstand the battle.” - Derek R.

5/5 Stars

[Davis Wimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. The stories really made people without anxiety, depression, self-hate, etc. understand how serious it is. It showed that no matter how much life may suck at times, you should never give up and you should keep moving forward. These stories were very moving. The people in the stories are so strong not only to go through what they do but also tell about it. There are some stories where they are talking about a loved one who killed themselves and it shows how much it effects everyone close to them. All of the stories are very emotional.
The warning in the beginning of the book needs to be taken in to consideration. If any of the stories in the book make you start to have a relapse you need to stop reading. This is because they are all emotional and can make you feel uneasy. I will admit, I had to stop reading some of the stories because I couldn't handle it, but the ones I was able to get through were eye opening. These are serious problems that need to be recognized. Once they are recognized people need to not look down on someone with a problem but help them and respect them.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be cautious if deciding to read this book. Story after story of people coming to terms with the lifelong battle that mental health will wage on their life can have undesired consequences. I would strongly recommend finding someone you feel comfortable talking with about it, because this isn’t a quick, light, or uplifting read. Have a care for yourself.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally struggle from several mental disorders. This book really opened the whole world of mental health issues to me. That other people struggle everyday from what I struggle with. It opens the world of these issues and trying to help people who don't struggle understand it.

[aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring. It is basically a book of inspirational stories, from others going through a depression. The book also shows tattoos in the form of a semicolon, both basic and unique. I would recommend reading this, but it may also make you sad.

[Blinkyzombie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars out of 5. This book is said to be able to give you hope and to let you know that you're not alone. In my opinion, it does let you know that you're not alone, but the hope is not there. All I got from this book is that mental illness has a shit ton of stigma, and has no cure and it will be a daily battle for the rest of your life. This book is perfect for people who have never experienced this degree of mental illness. It serves as an educational tool to show that people like us are really out here. For people who HAVE experienced this type of mental illness, I do not recommend this book. It can be very triggering. The thing that bummed me out the most about this is the fact that the founder of the semicolon project committed suicide. If this movement couldn't keep her alive as the founder, how are other people supposed to stay afloat?

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what it said it was going to be. I enjoyed that it had people of all different ages and people in all different parts of recovery sharing stories. Yes, it may be extremely triggering to someone who is not in a good place. I think this would be good for someone who is trying to support a loved one who is dealing with mental health issues but who hasn’t experienced them for themselves. If you’re in a bad place mentally just let this sit on your shelf for a while, that’s what I did, and pick it up when things are looking better.

[Alex Simeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm aware that my life will, in all probability, include relapses. That's okay. I've had to accept the fact that complete recovery will probably not be my reality, but I'm determined to enjoy a good quality of life, even if it isn't perfect. Even if it isn't what I expected."

this just felt like such a warm hug that i didn't know i would need the most right now. like everyone's stories that were shared in the book, i know that mine is also far from over. it's only the beginning.

[Kren]

Suddenly remembered I read this in high school

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. It was inspiring and comforting to know there are others who have or do struggle but have pushed through and have hope. It was relatable and gave me things to think about.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this one but overall it was great. The mixed feelings come because for some of the people the solutions seemed too simple...solutions I’ve never found.

[Millie Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I got this book, I thought it was going to have a happy ending basically but in reality it really didn't. I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book and Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who is or was struggling with mental illnesses

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read, and it’s not for everyone: the starkness and honesty and heartbreak of some of the contributors’ stories have the potential to be triggering.

But woven within the rawness and the pain is an overarching theme of hope and perseverance, and a constant refrain— you are not alone. And that is a necessary message for many.

Includes numerous photographs of contributors’ Project Semicolon tattoos, and a list of valuable suicide prevention resources.

[angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Project Semicolom: Your story Isn't Over is a collection of stories from various people who have experienced depression, anxiety, bipolar, and many other mental illnesses. They write about the hardships they've gone through, and how they were pulled out of it, or about a friend/family member who they lost to suicide. I found this story inspiring, to see people who've had it so much worse than I have and still persevere. Remember: Life's tough, but so are you. You aren't alone, so if you're thinking suicidal thoughts, seek help. You are beautiful, you are loved, and you deserve this world.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really about peoples personal experiences with mental health and how they have overcome it or continue to work hard at it. It's not always something easily cured so it's often a life long battle. This book is a pretty simple read and can have many triggers in it so do proceed with caution. I myself am currently in a good place and chose to read it. I felt like it was inspiring to me and gave me hope that I can continue to battle my mental illness as well.

[Annika]

i finished this book in one day, i started at 8:24 in the morning and finished less then a few minutes ago. i knew it would a different and difficult book to read and i understand how difficult i would be. stories of assault and self harm and depression where harder to read then anticipated. but i don’t regret any second of it. although i haven’t gone through anything like the stories entail, i feel as though i am more connected to those who have.

[Jazz Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book earlier in my mental heath recovery journey. The short entries are inspiring and capture so much individual strength and courage. Definitely a book I highly recommend for those struggling with a mental disorder. The book highlights the important lesson that You are not alone.

[Megs 📚]

I'm not rating this book because I don't feel like it's fair for me personally to rate such raw and emotional pieces of writing. Although it can be triggering the hope that this book is filled with is wonderful. Project Semicolon is something that the world has needed for so long.

[Madiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much and I plan on reading again in the future. It's such a great book and it help me with a lot of stuff in my life.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring stories of people who have tried to commit suicide and lived. They frequently have semi-colon tattoos to show that the suicide attempt was but a pause in their lives.

[Anna Sobczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but true... non suicidal people should read this gateway into the world of mentally Ill.