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After Schizophrenia by Margaret Hawkins
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After Schizophrenia:
The Story of My Sister's Reawakening
After 30 Years

Reviews | Excerpt | Video | Radio Interviews


Schizophrenia affects more than 3 million American adults. Despite being classified as a severe mental illness, a brain disease that can be treated, it remains misunderstood. Schizophrenia still carries a stigma that too often devastates and silences families.

For 30 years, Margaret Hawkins' sister Barb lived cloistered in her family home in suburban Chicago, a prisoner of undiagnosed schizophrenia. Hearing voices and paralyzed with fear, she was never evaluated, never treated, and refused to leave the house.

After Schizophrenia is the story of Barb's descent into severe mental illness and the healing that has come only in recent years: after her parents' death when Margaret became her guardian. With uncanny grace and humor, Margaret chronicles her family's struggle with Barb's mental illness, the love that carried them through, and the virtual army of healthcare angels willing to come to Barb's aid. This is an extraordinary story of severe mental illness and the healing that is possible with prompt diagnosis, good drugs, good care, and a fierce belief in the power to get well.




Reviews

"I was up all night reading After Schizophrenia. In writing this compelling and beautifully written book, Margaret Hawkins joins pioneers in truth, like John Nash of A Beautiful Mind, by opening another door on this strangely dark place and allowing the light of experience to shed understanding and compassion. After Schizophrenia gives hope to all. I loved this book and thank Margaret Hawkins for having the courage to write it, her family for living through it."
Judy Collins, singer/songwriter, social activist

"An outstanding tribute to the power of love and persistence."
Midwest Book Review

"An unflinching account of a family's struggle to come to terms with an adult child's severe mental illness and find hope and love on the other side. What is shows us, once again, is that most of what we think we know about mental illness is just plain wrong."
Mark Vonnegut, M.D., author of Eden Express and Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So

"A beautifully crafted story of immense compassion and subtle humor that held me in thrall from the first page to the last."
Margaret Moorman, author of My Sister's Keeper

"A compelling family memoir, written with a deep understanding of the complex ties that bind us."
Evelyn Renold, AARP



Video






Radio Interviews

  • Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 1 of 3)
    Play Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 1 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 1 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 1 of 3)

    Psychiatrist Dr. Dolores Malispina interviews Margaret Hawkins on the occasion of the soft cover publication of After Schizophrenia: The Story of My Sister’s Reawakening After 30 Years.

  • Play Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 2 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 2 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 2 of 3)
  • Play Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 3 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 3 of 3)Doctor Radio, SiriusXM, December 20, 2011 (Segment 3 of 3)

    This last sement includes listeners calling in.

  • Play Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 1Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 1Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 1

    For 30 years, Barb Hawkins lived confined in her parents' home, a prisoner of undiagnosed schizophrenia. Not until her sister gained guardianship did Barb get diagnosed for the mental disease which affects more than three million Americans, yet is treatable and still widely misunderstood. Margaret Hawkins discusses her memoir, After Schizophrenia: The Story of My Sister's Reawakening After 30 Years. Part 1 aired November 4, 2011.

  • Play Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 2Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 2Bob Edwards interviews Margaret Hawkins on SiriusXM Part 2

    Part 2 of Bob Edwards' interview aired on November 4, 2011 on the occasion of the publication of Margaret Hawkins memoir, After Schizophrenia.

  • Doctor Radio, Sirius/XM 28 September, 2010
    Play Doctor Radio, Sirius/XM 28 September, 2010Doctor Radio, Sirius/XM 28 September, 2010Download Doctor Radio, Sirius/XM 28 September, 2010Doctor Radio, Sirius/XM 28 September, 2010

    Psychiatrist Dr. Dolores Malispina interviews Margaret Hawkins on her memoir How We Got Barb Back: The Story of My Sister’s Reawakening After 30 Years of Schizophrenia published in September by Red Wheel / Weiser and available in independent bookstores, Borders, Barnes & Noble and at Amazon. 10 minute clip from a 1 hour interview.

  • Play Mike Schikman Show, WSVA 550AM, 29 September, 2010Mike Schikman Show, WSVA 550AM, 29 September, 2010Download Mike Schikman Show, WSVA 550AM, 29 September, 2010Mike Schikman Show, WSVA 550AM, 29 September, 2010

    Mike Schikman interviews Margaret Hawkins on How We Got Barb Back: The Story of My Sister’s Reawakening After 30 Years of Schizophrenia

  • Play The Talk Show with Bryan Allen, CKNX 920, October 6, 2010The Talk Show with Bryan Allen, CKNX 920, October 6, 2010Download The Talk Show with Bryan Allen, CKNX 920, October 6, 2010The Talk Show with Bryan Allen, CKNX 920, October 6, 2010

    Bryan Allen interviews Margaret Hawkins about her memoir How We Got Barb Back: The Story of My Sister’s Reawakening After 30 Years of Schizophrenia on "The Talk Show" in London, Ontario, Canada. Part 1 of 2, continued below

  • Play The Talk Show with Bryan Allan, CKNX 920 Radio - part 2The Talk Show with Bryan Allan, CKNX 920 Radio - part 2Download The Talk Show with Bryan Allan, CKNX 920 Radio - part 2The Talk Show with Bryan Allan, CKNX 920 Radio - part 2