A Different Life: An authentic and inspiring story about trauma, mental illness and resilience (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781923163171)

5 stars! "Honest, uplifting, biographical, insightful, relatable ..." - Dr Wathsala Yapa - General Practitioner - MBBS FRACGP

5 stars! "A must read book. Jonathan has written an honest, raw and vulnerable story ..." - Elspeth Haswell-Smith, CEO - Well Life Services, Psychologist

5 stars! "A fast paced, brave and honest telling of one person's journey through mental health ..." - Pauline Collins, Professor of Law UniSQ, LLB Adel, BVisArts USQ, Grad.Dip in Prof.Com. USQ, LLM UQ, PhD UQ.NMAS, GAICD

5 stars! "Jonathan's courageous account of his journey through trauma is compelling ..." - The Reverend Canon Paul Mitchell - Rector St Lukes Toowoomba

5 stars! "A courageous book that seeks to fight the stigma associated with mental illness ..." - Dr Ashar Imam, Psychiatrist MBBS FRANZCP

A brilliant young man suffers life threatening childhood trauma that returns as mental illnesses in his adult years.

With aspirations of being a successful lawyer, Jonathan embarks on a path to make his dreams come true, but is ultimately, unable to do so due to his schizoaffective disorder. In this candid and unflinching memoir, Jonathan reveals his story in all its rawness: the ups, the downs, the wins, the losses, the highs and the darkest of lows.

Determined to discover his own normal life and find his purpose, Jonathan takes us on the journey of his different life from his earliest memories, through to his debilitating mental illnesses, drug addiction and recovery. Pushing through the depths of his mental health to climb out of the darkness into the light, he shares not only his experiences with trauma, mental illness and self medication but also his wisdom. Jonathan provides simple, easy to use tools and principles that have been the keys to living his own, different life.

Ultimately, each one of us has to rescue ourselves and Jonathan's story is living proof that all of us possess what it takes to be stronger, healthier and happier than we ever imagined. This is a story of extreme resilience, courage and above all hope...