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A Fine Line A Balance to Survive Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 144 ratings

"This is a courageous and moving story written by a courageous woman, in which she describes vividly her experiences of some of the best and the worst of human behaviour. It should provide help and insight to many people who are enduring mental suffering. It is a powerful lesson for those who live with, care and provide support for people with mental disturbance and those who administer health- care systems." Prof. Fred Toates and Dr. Olga Coschug-Toates.
The British Psychology Society 2010
‘Well done to Lisa WB who has had amazing success with her first book ‘A Fine Line’. ‘A Fine Line’ is based on Lisa’s own story of suffering years of child abuse. The main character, Bridget, is persuaded to check herself into a psychiatric unit, for what she thinks is a matter of weeks, which then turns into years as she unravels a sequence of appalling abuse, blocked from her memory.
Professor Antony Sheehan, Chief Executive of the Leicestershire and Rutland NHS Trust. March 2010
"A Fine Line is a very significant text for all those trying to understand what it is really like to use the mental health system, indeed why so many of the women who use MH Services need help in the first place. Lisa has been forthright in her account of the good, the bad and the indifferent. As the chapters go on we see a compelling story unfold with lessons for managers, clinicians and service users jumping out of every page. It's not easy but it's a must!"

Dr Ojeicha, GP
"Nothing splendid has been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances... The book, like its author is splendid."

This book was No 1 in child abuse for over a year on Amazon UK, endorsed by the medical professionals.

IT WAS QUITE A MOMENT WHEN I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK WRITTEN BY A FRIEND OF MY DAUGHTER. IT IS THE STORY OF HER STRUGGLE FOR MENTAL STABILITY AFTER SEVERE TRAUMA AND BETRAYALS. SHE HAS HAD TO SELF-PUBLISH, DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PSYCHIATRISTS, BECAUSE ‘SOB-LIT’ IS SAID TO HAVE HAD ITS DAY. BUT, ‘SOB-LIT’ THIS ISN’T. IT IS, I THINK, A VERY IMPORTANT BOOK.

THE TIME WHEN HER TRAUMA’S WERE OCCURRING WAS THE 70’S. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. IT WAS AN ERA WHEN WE WERE EXTREMELY CAREFUL HOW AND WHAT WE SPOKE TO OTHERS, ESPECIALLY OUR ELDERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. REPUTATIONS WERE ALL AND THE NEXT GENERATION KNEW WHAT WAS AT STAKE FOR OLDER PEOPLE. THE BOOK IS A TIMELY REMINDER THAT EVEN NOW SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THEIR VOICE, IN A DESPERATE SITUATION.

THE BOOK IS VERY READABLE: I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN I HOPE IT WILL BE WELL BORROWED FROM OUR OWN LIBRARY, ESPECIALLY BY THOSE CONCERNED WITH TRAINING NURSES AND CARERS IN MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS. SHE QUIETLY GIVES EXAMPLES OF THE COMMENTS FROM BOTH UNCARING STAFF AND FROM THOSE WHO CARED, AND THUS GAVE HER BOOK HER LIFE. THE REMEMBERED DIALOGUES ARE SO VIVID.

I AM, HOWEVER, LEFT WITH DEEP SADNESS AND SHAME THAT MY GENERATION DID NOT NOTICE ENOUGH, WERE NOT AWARE.

I THINK THE BOOK BELONGS IN OUR GIRARDIAN SECTION IN THE LIBRARY AS IT GIVES A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HOW HUMANS ARE AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED IN THINGS-AFRAID TO STEP OUTSIDE GROUP-BELONGING-AFRAID TO UPSET THE APPLECART:ALL MANIFESTATIONS THAT LOVE IS EMBEDDED IN.
BY BRENDA WALL
OLD MIDDLE FOSTER HOME, THE RETREAT. YORKSHIRE.

When Bridget is admitted to a psychiatric unit for intensive therapy, neither the medical professionals, her husband Joseph, nor even Bridget herself realise the extent of the horrors that will unfold.
The initial two week voluntary stay eventually turns into an inimitable sectioning that lasts for nearly four years. The pain and distress of Bridget's revalations cause her to be detained in a High Security Unit and the police become involved.
As Bridget reveals more and more of her past, the medical team are repeatedly shocked and even her consultant is shaken to the core when she eventually reveals her darkest moment. Prequel to The Survival

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Product description

Review

a courageous and moving story written by a courageous woman, in which she describes vividly her experiences of some of the best and the worst of human behaviour. It should provide help and insight to many people who are enduring mental suffering. It is a powerful lesson for those who live with, care and provide support for people with mental disturbance and those who administer health-care systems --Prof. Frederick Toates, co-author of Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour

From the Author

The book is a true account of severe child abuse and the ambiguous care after in a psychiatric unit. The book has been praised by the medics for the non biased approach and feedback of the care. The British Psychology Society have praised the book and mentioned it in their newseletter. The Educational Psychology service, Liaison Psychiatry, Social Services, Counselling, CAMHS and many more professionals have praised and supported the book. The Chief Executive of Leics NHS Trust has bought a number of copies for the Senior Managers of the NHS and he has recommended different staff to read the book. Old Middle Foster home an affiliate of The Retreat in Yorkshire has nominated the book for Mind Book of The Year Award. The author has received many messages of support and thanks from the public. People have stated the book has helped them understand other people better. The aim of the book is to a raise awareness of child abuse and help promote better understanding and care for people with mental health issues including trauma.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00457XMGS
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 29 Sept. 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 601 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1848761544
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ A Fine Line
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 144 ratings

About the author

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Lisa Whenham-Bossy
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Lisa WB was born in Leicestershire in the 1960's and has remained in close proximity to the area where she grew up. She is happily married to Patrick who is from Switzerland, and they have two children and many animals including alpacas,rescued billy goats and poultry.

A Fine Line is her first published book and it has received enormous praise from the medical world.The ebook version has been a bestseller for over 6 years in several categories.

Lisa has achieved a (1.1) First Class (Honours) Psychology degree, and hopes it will help give further insight to child abuse in her next book. She also gained a Counselling Diploma with Distinction. The Government website The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills were so impressed with Lisa's achievements they asked her to be a role model for adult learning and Lisa is helping to film a video about education for adults. Lisa is keen to promote the fact that having a disability does not mean you cannot achieve your goals.

Lisa has also published the sequel to A Fine Line A Balance to Survive.

The Survival ebook by Lisa WB has also been a best seller in several genres on Amazon.

The medics and police state that Lisa has survived against the odds, Lisa is passionate to show that people who have survived trauma can live normal lives. She believes that it is through reading books like A Fine Line and other true experiences, that people can gain insight which may lead to better understanding and support. This has been endorsed by leading professionals in the medical world.

Lisa is also passionate that care for the mental health in the future is regulated and that the people who have power do not take unjust advantage at any opportunity.

A Fine line A Balance to Survive was praised by many professional medical bodies and leading medical individuals, and was No 1 in many categories on Amazon in the ebooks rankings for over a year. It was also recommended as a reading book for staff who worked in the Leicestershire mental health teams.Despite the numerous letters of thanks and acknowledgments from survivors and professionals that deal with mental health, such as child abuse solicitors, prison officers, and relatives of survivors, the book never received a lot of recognition form the public media. Lisa is sure that this is to do with the time it was published (2010) and the stigma that surrounded mental health.

Lisa would like to thank everyone who has read her books and hopes that other survivors will share their accounts so that the more awareness about child abuse will introduce better management and also allows other survivors to be able to relate to some of the experiences. This also introduces insight for the professionals who manage child abuse cases. In the future Lisa hopes that the stigma surrounding mental health will decrease as people start to learn more and gain valuable insight that will help others have a brighter future.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
144 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an addictive read with fantastic insight into life in a psychiatric hospital, describing it as a brave and amazing strong woman's story. The writing style and story quality receive mixed reactions - while some find it well written and engaging, others say it's not very well written and boring to read. The book's realism receives negative feedback, with one customer noting it's very hard to believe.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

30 customers mention ‘Readability’27 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an addictive and fantastic read.

"...Very well written and gripping, honest account. One of the best books I have read." Read more

"...But how she copes and moves on in her life. Is good. It’s good to see. Thank you" Read more

"Thank you for writing such an amazing book. It expresses what a psychiatric hospital is truly like, without exaggeration over or under...." Read more

"...It was a very good choice!..." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Insight’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, particularly praising its detailed look at life in a psychiatric hospital and personal accounts of mental health experiences.

"An excellent book which I could not put down. Very insightful and having had personal experience of mental health problems and mental health..." Read more

"...in Mental Health I found Lisa's story not only very moving and convincing, but also in line with what I saw happen on the wards...." Read more

"...work with adults with challenging behaviour, this book gave me the insight of how, from the perspective of the customer, their lives could be, their..." Read more

"...I'm glad that I did. It was riveting, at times unbelievable, at other times so emotionally charged, I did not want to...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Strength’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the strength of the main character, describing her as an amazing and brave woman, with one customer noting how she persevered through early life.

"...Bridget is so so so strong. She makes me proud." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this very honest book, loved the journey through her life. It had me gripped throughout the story...." Read more

"...What an amazing strong woman, I have so much respect for her...." Read more

"A sad account of a person who persevered through early life and has with the love for her family lived to tell the tale." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Writing style’11 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some finding it very well written while others disagree.

"...of mental health problems and mental health services was easy to relate to. Very well written and gripping, honest account...." Read more

"...And to others that like me want to know more, this is an easy book to follow with a very interesting history." Read more

"...The only thing that detracted from the enjoyment of the book was the poor grammar and punctuation, which confused me at times...." Read more

"...The writer is very honest with her feelings and reactions to others in her protective mode...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Story quality’7 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality of the book, with some finding it engaging while others say it's boring and doesn't keep them interested.

"...It got boring and it was far too predictable." Read more

"Having worked in Mental Health I found Lisa's story not only very moving and convincing, but also in line with what I saw happen on the wards...." Read more

"Enjoyed reading this, although sickening to read about things that happen, but reassuring to read how they come through the other side!!" Read more

"This was an incredible story and was a very brave thing for the author to share...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Realism’0 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's realism, with some finding it haunting and emotionally charged, while others find it hard to believe.

"This story is horrifying and true. But how she copes and moves on in her life. Is good. It’s good to see. Thank you" Read more

"...At times it is very haunting, and you want to reach inside and give her a hug...." Read more

"...It was riveting, at times unbelievable, at other times so emotionally charged, I did not want to. I wish the author good karma for life and health." Read more

"I'm sorry, but I hated this book. The story is not very engaging and the writing style is quite repetetive and dull...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2014
    An excellent book which I could not put down. Very insightful and having had personal experience of mental health problems and mental health services was easy to relate to. Very well written and gripping, honest account. One of the best books I have read.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2025
    This story is horrifying and true. But how she copes and moves on in her life. Is good. It’s good to see. Thank you
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2014
    It am ok book I was bored half way through as it seemed to lose purpose and a little sounds far fetched but happy continued to end and it appears the life is turning around
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 September 2011
    Having worked in Mental Health I found Lisa's story not only very moving and convincing, but also in line with what I saw happen on the wards. I would query the complaint of some reviewers that it is 'badly written', or 'disjointed' and ask them how they would expect someone who has been through all this and is still in the process of recovery to write. What they regard as a defect I regard as part of this memoir's value. It is raw, and at times disconnected (like the author was at the time). I would say that here is a book,like the more fictional 'One flew over the Cuckoos Nest' that, as another reviewer has suggested, should be read by all engaged in the provision of Mental Health care; or who wish to get a ground eye view of what it can be like.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2014
    Thank you for writing such an amazing book.
    It expresses what a psychiatric hospital is truly like, without exaggeration over or under.
    Bridget is so so so strong. She makes me proud.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2012
    I was not sure if to enroll to the University in a Nurse Mental Health, or Adult or child course, but after to read the description of this book I felt attracted to read it...
    It was a very good choice! As I already work with adults with challenging behaviour, this book gave me the insight of how, from the perspective of the customer, their lives could be, their fears, how some "professinals" treat them and in general the fight to recover their lives.

    I read this book in a couple of days, it made me feel angry at times, sad and/or happy for the effort this woman put into get back her life. I will recommend it to anybody that at the moment feels its alone, as this will show you there are lots of other people, families struggling with mental health problems. And to others that like me want to know more, this is an easy book to follow with a very interesting history.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2012
    After reading these reviews I decided to download the book but was very disappointed. I am one of those people who, when they start a film or book they do not enjoy, they still have to finish and this book got worse not better. It is horrible to say but once a new person has been introduced into the book you just know that they will be an abuser. It got boring and it was far too predictable.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2014
    I have read this book several times now and keep coming back to it because it just strikes so many chords with me.
    The writer is very honest with her feelings and reactions to others in her protective mode. At some points her narrative is brutal with regards to past events but the way she survives is admirable.
    The ending was too abrupt for my liking, I know that mental health problems will always be ongoing but I will always wish for a happy ending

Top reviews from other countries

  • Stace
    4.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 August 2011
    I enjoyed this book even though it was sad. 'A FINE LINE A BALANCE TO SURVIVE' was about a lady named Bridget who suffered mental illness. I've read a fair few books about characters that have mental illness as the topic, especially depression and bipolar, but this book's character Bridget's symptoms seemed more severe and therefor her actions were by far more drastic and shocking. It was a very interesting book. I felt sorry for Bridget being hospitalised and for her partner and kids who didn't have their Mum/Wife around. A great read...
  • dj
    1.0 out of 5 stars Believe it is not all true
    Reviewed in the United States on 31 March 2014
    The reason for the low rating is because I do not believe her story. It seems that every person that she met wanted her. I was molested as a twelve year old so I know that this sick thing does happen more times than people want to admit to. But it seems like all the people she came across thought she was so beautiful and had such a great body that they had to have her even by force. She writes that two of her bosses raped her over and over again. Why did she not file charges against either one of the two, instead she keeps working for them and gets upset when they get rid of her. Now since she does have problems with many mental health issues she may believe the things she writes about ate in fact the truth since she does have trouble with facts being fantasy or reality. I have problems with depression and anxiety and I am on medication for both, I like most people that have depression do not think they are all that beautiful or have a great body. I do believe she is jealous of her sisters, so in turn tells people how great she looks. She needs to try other medications out to help with her problems. I have had to change medications.

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