On the surface, her childhood seemed normal—even idyllic. Linda grew up in the iconic immigrant community of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, with her parents and a gifted older brother. But she spent her days at home alone with a mother who suffered major bouts of depression. At such times, young Linda was told, “Your mother…she’s not herself today.” Those words did little to help Linda understand what she was witnessing. Instead, she experienced the anxiety and hyper-vigilance that often take root when secrecy and shame surround a family member who is ill.

AMAZON REVIEWS

“What makes Linda Appleman Shapiro’s memoir “She’s Not Herself” so much more than a memoir of HER life is her ability to transport the reader to the childhood she lived. I became part of the family, experiencing the emotions of hurt and hope, isolation and belonging, fear and reassurance, and above all denial, introspection and making sense for herself (myself) and others. I forgot it was a memoir-and was engaged in “the story”.”

“Are you in need of a deeply engrossing, exquisitely written true story—one you’re likely to always remember? Okay, I’ve just read Linda Appleman Shapiro’s “She’s Not Herself: A Psychotherapist’s Journey Into and Beyond Her Mother’s Mental Illness.” A mesmerizing book that flows swiftly and places the reader inside the writer’s rooms, heart, and life.”