Description
Kandy’s life takes a devastating turn the day she is assaulted. Confused, broken, and traumatized, she watches her world crash before her eyes. The life she built was now destroyed. Previous suffering, loss, and trauma resurfaces, including witnessing her mother’s death as a teenager.
Forced to face the trauma, Kandy hits rock bottom.
Her mental health deteriorates, and she is diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. As the mental illnesses spread like wildfire, she is sent down a gut-wrenching, dark, and twisted road. She experiences flashbacks, triggers, blood-curdling fear, behavioural changes, dissociation, and nightmares that will send your heart racing.
Shattered is an unforgettable story of trauma and healing. This is a must-read for those who feel alone in their trauma and want to reclaim their lives. Throughout the book, you will discover effective coping strategies for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and stress. As well, you will learn valuable lessons about trauma and healing.
This is a great resource for those that have not experienced trauma but want to help someone who is going through it. You will gain insight of what it is like for someone that is living through trauma and the after effects it can have on the individual’s life.
Included in Appendices:
- Lessons learned about trauma and healing
- Strategies for managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress
- Exercises for changing thought pattern, identifying anxiety and triggers, and discovering purpose and worth
Greg Balkwill (verified owner) –
The author of Shattered is obviously a courageous woman. Her willingness to share her tragic events, her family story and her tight relationship with her twin sister is a riveting account. I read it in one sitting unable to set it aside. Each chapter ends with a helpful hint and what I saw as a note of hope for us all. The end of the book provides healthy food sources and she openly shared all the meds she took during her journey towards mental and physical health. Putting herself out there with such transparency is a feat few have the guts to do. Congratulations and thank you for writing and sharing. Wishing her health and happiness as she returns to her normal life of touching lives. She just touched mine.
Tracy B (verified owner) –
A real-life depiction of what it’s like in the aftermath of a trauma. Hopefully this will provide insight and hope.
E. K. H (verified owner) –
Reading this book helped me understand how trauma can affect someone. The author talks candidly about her experiences and the things that trigger her PTSD. If you know someone who has had a traumatic experience, I highly recommend reading this book to better understand what they are going through. If you are the one who experienced trauma, the author describes self help techniques that you may wish to try.
Julie Haigh (verified owner) –
This is the author’s second book-I’ve read and very much enjoyed her first book-that is about happier times, a travel memoir. This memoir is about much more difficult times; the effects it all had on her day-to-day life, and how she learned to cope on the road to healing.
She’s suffered so many painful times, and she wants to help others by sharing her story, what happened to her. It’s a nice presentation, I liked the font style, and a few colour photos are included, a lot of thought and care has gone into it.
The book starts where she and her twin sister are born. The writing is concise and clear. I like reading medical memoirs, and found it interesting reading about the twins’ early entrance into the world.
The book was written simply; no nonsense, no waffle, no flowery descriptions. It was straight to the point, which I liked. Despite the difficult subject matter, I found her writing very quick and easy to read. I read it in just a couple of days. There is a funny anecdote too, so it was a balanced account.
Subject matter like this is hard to read about. It’s difficult to say you enjoyed reading the book-how can you enjoy it, when it’s someone’s worst of times? But she is able to communicate her story on the page so well. So it is easy to read, to whizz through. But we can only begin to understand the huge amount she’s gone through.
It’s good that she feels writing about her journey has helped. It shows hope; a more uplifting end. Naturally she’ll still have bad days, but with writing, she’s found something that helps her cope, manage her symptoms etc. She hadn’t intended to become a writer, and it was a positive thing, it seems the new focus helped her a lot.
Much of this is reading about difficult times, but it is uplifting to read how starting her writing journey helped her healing, and continues to do so.
Batoul Ajlouni (verified owner) –
How vulnerable we all are to trauma and how easily our lives can be affected by it.
A touching story that shows what the author went through can in reality happen to any of us at any time. This book also includes background information and valuable lessons learned by the author, all of which put things into perspective. A recommended read.
Alex (verified owner) –
A great read about the long lasting effects of a traumatic event. Very personal and relatable tale by told by the author that paints a detailed picture of coping with PTSD.
Tammy Horvath (verified owner) –
I can’t believe everything this author has gone through and is still going through. Even though it causes her pain, she shares her story to try and help others heal. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with abuse, PTSD, anxiety, or depression. The detailed ordeals in Shattered will help anyone experiencing similar problems. I love how she shares her solutions, those that work and those that don’t. Shattered is a must-read.
Tracey Hagerman (verified owner) –
This book is a perfect read for anyone going through trauma. What I appreciated about the book the most is that the author had the courage to be raw and real with what she experienced. Her fight to cope after a traumatizing incident coupled with a difficult childhood makes her an inspiration for others who experience trauma through no fault of their own. Despite the author’s agonizing pain, both physical and mental, she had the courage to write and publish two books, a feat most people never achieve even under the best of circumstances. My heart bled with her as she walked us through her most difficult days. But in the end, I felt inspired by her resilience and genuine quest to help others who experience similar trauma.
ReadThisBook (verified owner) –
Writing about PTSD is, in itself, an incredible challenge. The mental illness comes with such overwhelming and soul wrenching feelings that it’s difficult to describe this to anyone who doesn’t understand. But the author expertly documented all of her feelings and her challenges during the early days of her assault. Nothing is left to the imagination. As a PTSD survivor myself, I faced my own triggers as I read this story. However, she gave me words that I needed to understand my past trauma. I had many “aha” moments. i.e. That’s why I react this way; that’s why I feel this way, etc. Going forward, I now have a vocabulary to be able to explain my difficulties to others. Great job, Kandy.
Judith (verified owner) –
I just came across this book and could not stop reading when starting it. The author draws you into her, at times, heart-breaking life story in such a vivid way, that you just can’t help but feel lots of empathy for her. I deeply admire how despite all the hurdles she has had to face in life, she always made an effort to get up again to search for ways to bring meaning and joy to her life and to help and inspire other people, too. This book is a combination of a story that will leave you deeply touched, and of a myriad of great coping mechanisms when facing difficult situations, experiencing trauma and dealing with mental health issues. A brave, authentic story that gives hope. Congratulations for writing about such a difficult, yet extremely important topic!
Brooke (verified owner) –
Wow-what an amazing book, Kandy has had so much happen in her life. I can completely understand why her mental health takes a turn for the worse. She and her twin did not grow up in the best circumstance from abuse as teenagers to watching the death of their mother. Her being able to recover and heal is amazing, the story is her story and is full of actual pictures throughout, also warnings of when she is going to tell something related to abuse. The book goes on to tell her story from strategies and techniques that helped her to different medications and side effects. Great read very eye opening
Jeffrey John Frisone (verified owner) –
I think this an important book for people to read, especially men. A person’s behavior after a trauma is not a reaction to other people personally but out of a sense that danger can come from anywhere and anyone. It affects us all in different and some of us take longer to recover than others if they recover at all. The authors story and experience is a perfect illustration of how PTSD can have a debilitating effect on your life. The book is very honest and very well researched. Highly recommended.
Lindsey M. (verified owner) –
For anyone looking to better understand the effects of trauma, this is a must-read. A first-hand account of the experience of trauma that is gut-wrenchingly honest at times.
Alex (verified owner) –
A good read, presenting solid strategies to cope with trauma.
Debbie Clark US (verified owner) –
This book has so much honesty and vulnerability that I was so interested and intrigued to keep reading through the author’s incredible journey. She has great wisdom that would benefit a lot of readers. Great job!
Tara C<span class="a-icon a-profile-verified-badge"><span class="a-profile-verified-text"></span></span> (verified owner) –
I love the author’s transparency with the raw and real topic of trauma and PTSD. The author shares her painful experience of trauma, it being re-triggered later in life and how she dealt with it. I applaud her courage in sharing her vulnerable experience which I know will help others in a similar circumstance. She offers practical tools for handling the day to day reality of PTSD. I highly recommend this book if you are also experiencing something similar!
Maryanne G (verified owner) –
Very simple to read! The most important takeaway is that despite loss and pain, there is a way back. Life can throw you a lot of curveballs, and it was fascinating to see how Kandy dealt with some of them. Many people will find her inspiring, and I hope she finds her path in life and in her writing.
Antoinette M Grady (verified owner) –
I have read this authors 1st book which was a light read of travels during happier times.
This is an important book and I am glad the author has opened herself up to others.Im sure it was a cathartic writing journey as well as helpful, maybe essential for other assault ( on all levels) to read.
Besides telling the story , there is information for those to use ..tools. for those who have suffered PTSD, anxiety depression, etc.
A difficult read at times, the outcome is inspiring after all the author has been through.
A recommended read.
Sharon (verified owner) –
You can’t help but admire the author who is working so hard to triumph over intense mental health disorders and yet channels what she has been through into a book that will hopefully help others. In fact helping and caring for others seem’s to be her passion and I hope she achieves her dream of getting back to nursing. A book that weaves the authors personal journey with tips for anyone else going through similar issues, and a solid 5 stars from me.
HazelG (verified owner) –
The author’s battle with depression, anxiety and PTSD takes center stage in this book. The daily challenges almost overwhelm but she is determined to meet them head on. The lessons from her grit and determination are powerful. No matter what obstacles you are facing in life, Shattered will speak to you.
Barb Godin (verified owner) –
This book is a well written easy to read book for anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. Also a good read for someone who is involved with a person who has experienced a traumatic or violent event. Well worth the read!
Terry Miller (verified owner) –
This book opened my eyes and understanding of what PTSD and depression feel like. The author at times apologizes for feeling weak due to her mental illnesses, but my takeaway was just the opposite. The strength, courage and endless determination she showed could be compared to a badly injured person completely relearning to walk again. She keeps on fighting, never giving up. She searches for ways to keep pushing herself forward. I was filled with so much admiration for her. I have never had my peace of mind and sense of safety brutally ripped away from me and really didn’t understand how trauma affects the mind. But in this era of endless gun violence, especially in the USA, the number of people, especially young children, traumatized is growing exponentially. We MUST gain a better understanding of PTSD in order to help our fellow human beings heal. Kandy’s brutally honest mental health journey is a VERY IMPORTANT tool everyone should read, those going through PTSD and depression and those who live around them…that would include nearly everyone on earth. This author is helping to bring the discussion of mental health out into the open. I applaud the author for giving us this.
S.A.P. (verified owner) –
Very well written, traumatic and inspiring I could not put the book down.
Joana Ardelean (verified owner) –
Great resource on PTSD. The author’s story is touching and her path out of mental health one to read about.
Alyn Mitlyng (verified owner) –
You can actually feel the depth of the trauma this woman endured and how it has impacted her life. A great read for anyone who is struggling and feels like they are alone. Every day is work when you are dealing with PTSD, but using the suggestions in this book from mental exercises to nutrition and schedules will likely help your days get better.