Mom's Idea
A Journey through Madness
by
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4. “My roommates were all mentally ill like I was. But living there gave us the chance to live somewhere where it was possible to go without taking medications. The landlady didn’t care as long as the disability benefits kept coming in regularly… Let’s go back again to those bitter times, talk about what happened to me; retrace the steps I took that landed me first into the inner city and see what finally led me to where I am today.” (p.48)
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About the Book
Nathan Smith has struggled with schizophrenia his entire life. Overwhelmed by thoughts of suicide and depression, he disappeared into a haze of alcoholism to deal with the daily challenges of his disease. But instead of alleviating his disease, the alcohol made it ten times worse. Spending most of his time in an alcoholic stupor, he was not in control of his thoughts or actions, thanks to his schizophrenia. Each time he tried to get control of his life, he failed miserably. Mom's Idea is the heartbreaking story of Smith’s struggles to deal with his schizophrenia while ultimately realizing that he also had to find a way to stop drinking. With the encouragement of his mother, he began the long road to sobriety and a more productive life. Mom’s Idea offers an in-depth account of an average person suffering from schizophrenia; it chronicles the frequently changing ups and downs of dealing with a debilitating disease and the compounding problem of alcoholism.
About the Author
Born in 1951, Nathan Smith has suffered from schizophrenia since early adulthood. Writing Mom’s Idea, his first book, gave him the opportunity to explore the trauma and problems he has encountered. He currently lives in Lutherville, Maryland, where he was born and raised.