'Not Just an Alcoholic' by Clare Elizabeth Midgley and Steven Midgley

Buy Not Just an Alcoholic by Clare Elizabeth Midgley and Steven Midgley:

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I promised Steven his story would be told, and this is it.

Steven is a highly intelligent and distinctive young man who evolves into an anxious teenager and a mentally struggling adult. Throughout his life, he is labelled with a variety of diagnoses—Asperger's, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorder, and simply "an alcoholic"—each one reflecting his ongoing battle for consistent, effective, and comprehensive care. His story, told with unflinching honesty and dark humour, chronicles the many harrowing moments of his journey: suicide attempts, a hospital stay where he is handcuffed to a bed, and periods of disappearing without a trace. Through these vivid accounts, Steven shares the painful path of his descent into mental illness and addiction.

He describes his experiences with mental health professionals, many of whom failed to engage with him or earn his trust. His mother fills in the gaps, recounting the parts of Steven’s story he cannot remember and providing the final, poignant pieces to this narrative of grief, struggle, and loss.

“Compelling and brilliantly crafted, Steven’s voice—his pain, frustration, anger, and raw honesty—pierces through, offering a rare glimpse into the depths of mental illness. This book is both heartbreaking and enlightening, and I expect it to profoundly impact anyone who reads it. Congratulations on your courage to share Steven’s story.”

— Mike McInnes, Author

“This book offers a unique and invaluable insight into the lives of those who suffer from Bipolar Disorder and the families who stand beside them. Its powerful messages are a must-read for anyone in the mental health field, from students to professionals.”

— Jane Maffey, Senior Lecturer, Teesside University

About the authors

Clare Midgley was born into a Durham mining community in 1954 eventually moving to the new town of Newton Aycliffe where her father was a railway signalman. She lives here with her husband Ian and the occasional Hearing Dog puppy – Ian and Clare are volunteers for Hearing Dogs UK. On leaving school she worked in Banking and her son Steven was born in 1979. As Steven grew into a teenager, he needed care and support due to his illness. Although struggling with his mental health, Steven was a talented musician and song writer. He also was skilled in renovating and repairing electronic instruments. Clare left banking and followed a career as a Holistic Therapist. This allowed her to support Steven and to work part time. She later became a development worker for Age UK County Durham and continued working after Steven’s death in 2011. She retired in 2018 and now enjoys gardening, beekeeping, and looking after the occasional puppy. She is a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and teacher, mentoring distance learning students and occasionally seeing personal clients.