Cured: A Doctor's Journey from Panic to Peace

by MD Anne McTiernan

MP3 CD Format Anne McTiernan begins her second memoir in 1982 at age twenty-nine, soon after completing her doctoral training in public health research at the University of Washington. She and her husband are now parents to four-year-old and three-month-old girls. Realizing that jobs in her field are scarce, especially for women, Anne decides the only option for their financial security is to become a medical doctor. Overcoming her fear and life-long struggle with inadequacy, she moves the family 3,000 miles to New York to begin medical school.

Within a few months of starting this new life, Anne is in deep trouble. She is overwhelmed by the competing demands of motherhood and medical training and feels isolated. The stress builds, until Anne suffers a series of paralyzing panic attacks that threaten her ability to function. She begins psychotherapy and starts on a journey of self-discovery, realizing she has to change to survive.

Cured differs from other physician memoirs in its themes of motherhood, anxiety disorders, and the perspective of a female physician on how she turned adversity into strength and a set of skills.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

1 pages, Audio CD

First published February 16, 2021

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cured is a memoir of a mother who decides to become a medical doctor after receiving her PhD and working in medical research as an epidemiologist. This decision was not an easy one and as she moved forward through medical school, she began to experience major anxiety attacks. Cured is Anne McTiernan's story of dealing with her mental health struggles while trying to make her way through medical school and care for her family. She shares stories from the medical school lab and her home life, creating an interesting story that showed the differences between her orderly, high achieving life while learning to become a doctor and her family life with all the messiness and unpredictability that goes with it. She also freely shared her feelings of inadequacy and possible failure that had this reader rooting for her to get the help she needed to be successful. It was a struggle to make the decision to begin psychotherapy as it was looked down on in the medical profession. So many people see mental health struggles as a weakness, but this book shows how strong people can be, but they can still be overwhelmed. Through therapy, she learned to be in touch with her emotions and deal with childhood abuse and trauma. By writing this book she opens up the topic of Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Suppression, Childhood Trauma, and Panic Attacks. I always have a difficult time rating a memoir as it is someone's life, but based on the interest, and writing in this one, I feel very comfortable rating and recommending it. The narration by Nancy Peterson was very well done. She has a very pleasant and conversational tone which made this an enjoyable book to listen to.

[María · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should clarify that my rating is more a 3.5 out of 5.

I was intrigue by this book since I read the synopsis, it has always amazed me how people change careers and manage to be successful at that. This was a special one since I love medicine and love the idea of a mum, with all that it entitles, to become a doctor thus fulfilling her dreams and passions, without missing the family part.

I loved Nancy, the narrator, she made me feel like I was actually talking to Anne and hearing her story with all the emotions that came along during the hardships and happiness.

I found the story to be relatable, although at some points I was a tad annoyed with Anne and the narrow focus she seemed to have. Also, I needed to remind myself constantly that the story was set in 1980s because the level of misogyny was astonishing, even Anne herself acknowledge this with her own preconceptions of a female physician, I was in awe with some experiences that Anne suffer, not only with her biological family but also with coworkers, colleagues and other students, she never seemed to gave herself enough credit for those.

However I believe this book is not only a lovely success story, but also it provides tools for patients and even students suffering what Anne went through and realise that they are not alone, is a long way to find peace but it can be done, and it is always good to ask for help.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audiobook

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I read dozens of books every year so it takes a really special book to stand out above the others, but this book was amazing. "Cured" is the memoir of a mom who decides to become a doctor later in life, after she isn't finding satisfaction in her work as a PhD epidemiologist. The book discusses all the challenges she goes through on this difficult and ambitious journey.

This sensitive, heartfelt, nuanced and thorough tale discusses the stresses of balancing medical school with family life and the panic attacks that the author developed as a result, and how she dealt with them by going to psychotherapy (not so common in the 1980s, when the book takes place). Through therapy, she learned to be in touch with her emotions and deal with childhood abuse and trauma.

This book is insightful and very well written, and about as compelling as a book can be. I also liked that the author wove in broader reflections on womanhood, from a feminist perspective. Loved it!

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cured neatly pairs stories from the medical school lab with those from McTiernan's home life, creating engaging comparisons between the orderly, factual process of learning to become a doctor and the unpredictable, messy realities of life. McTiernan is generous in describing her worries and her thoughts of inadequacy, driving the reader to root for her and her healing.

As a woman who suffers from anxiety, I was often infuriated by the anecdotes that described moments of sexism, encouraged by the stories of women's strength, and plainly happy to see McTiernan making progress in therapy.

A story for those who might need reminders about their inner strength.

[Tasnim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cured. A memoir of a mother who decides to become a doctor. What I loved about this story was that it not only emphasised the way of treating patients but also treating one's own mental health issues. Also the story was encouraging. The narrator did a nice work to make the story more intriguing.

[Kimberly Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading her experience receiving psychotherapy. At first it bothered me that she seemed to focus more on the relationship with her therapist, than how it changed her; like something in the book was missing. Yet, in a way she did honor how simple and complex healing can be.

[Arika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cured is an inspirational story about a woman’s journey through Medical school while in the midst of turbulent mental health struggles. By writing this book she opens up the topic of Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Suppression, Childhood Trauma, and Panic Attacks. At times I felt so overwhelmed listening to her experiences that it allowed me to have more empathy for those around me that struggle with the same things. Often times for someone who doesn’t deal with this kind of thing it can be an annoyance, or seen as just a weakness, however, it is very much a physical battle. I enjoyed seeing her journey with counseling and how much it helped her. Also it should be mentioned that not only did therapy help her personally, but also her marriage and family dynamic. I felt bad for her that her extended family sucked, and she had a horrific childhood, but enjoyed seeing how she was determined to be an amazing mom because of that. I enjoyed a peak into the Medical field and process of becoming an MD, I have no experience with that.

The book ends off on a happy note, definitely worth a read (or listen on audiobook-the Narration is excellent). 4/5 stars.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. I was intrigued by the idea of a physician's approach and experience with a general anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The memoir reads very clinical (kind of like a physician wrote it - go figure), and was unrelatable. I wish that the author showed more vulnerability in her experiences with therapy, medication, and panic attacks.

[Shae Talib · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every bit of the book. It talked about a journey of a student, a patient and a mother trying to fit life in neat boxes. It was also very educational.

[OjoAusana · Rating 3 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 3.5 intriguing read that was certainly worth the read!