Books

Georgina Wakefield  has written 3 books on the subject including.
A Mothers Stroy
A Mothers Story
 Addict's Language
Addicts Language

Through the Maze and Fighting
Through the Maze

Review

 Videos

Georgina Wakefield  has been involved in the making of 7 films including:
My Family Loving Christian
A BBC2 50 minute film documentart entitles "My Family Loving Christian" - which gives an excellent insight to our lives.
Christians Thoughts (pdf).		 Relative Values
Myself and three carers discussing their lives and problems.
All in the Mind
An Anti Stigma Film.		 Christians Journey
Christian talking about his life.
Civic Awards Night
A short clip or Christian receiving an award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Schizophrenia - A Mother's Story" (back to top)

Schizophrenia - A Mother's Story
by Georgina Wakefield
Publication: January 2002
Paperback; 136 pages
ISBN: 1 9038770 3 2
Click here for Enquiries/Order Form

About the book:
Schizophrenia is a word that, for many, conjures up a vision of aggression and violence directed indiscriminately at those with whom the person suffering from this disorder comes in contact.
In fact, if there is violence, it is often directed inwards, at themselves, and the biggest risk is of suicide.

Grief for the families and the sufferer is added to by the lack of support and often unfeeling remarks of casual acquaintances, and even close friends who no longer see the person as an individual, but instead classify them as ‘nutcases’ or ‘loonies’. This is the language of the illinformed and this book tries to pierce this blanket of ignorance and tell the story of what a 10-year journey through mental illness is really like. This was a journey taken not only by Georgina’s son, Christian, but by the whole family.

Perhaps this book will go someway towards dispelling the stigma that all too often attaches to this terrible and harrowing disorder, and lead to increased respect for the suffering of those with schizophrenia. Perhaps also, professionals will gain an insight into what it is really like to be a carer and a sufferer.

 

"Addicts Language"(back to top)

Addicts Language
by Georgina Wakefield
Publication: December 2003
Paperback; 100 pages
ISBN: 1 9038772 5 3
Click here for Enquiries/Order Form

About the book:
Addicts. Language tells the story, in prose, verse and 'nursery' rhymes, of the world of those addicted to drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, etc. It also includes the diary entries of a young man who died as a result of his addiction.

Click here to see photos of Penelope Pittstop, one of the true case stories featured in the book. These photos show her graduate decline through herion addiction over a 5 year period.

It is hoped that, by telling these stories in this format, those concerned with caring, living and coping with the problems caused by drug addiction will gain insights into the causes, betrayals and abuse that leads individuals to seek this destructive form of solace.

The book does not seek to judge or offer remedies; it just tells the story.

 

"Schizophrenia - Through the Maze and Fighting Back (A Book for Carers)"(back to top)

Schizophrenia - Through the maze and fighting back A book for carers
by Georgina Wakefield
Publication: February 2004
Paperback; 100 pages
ISBN: 1 9038772 8 8
Click here for Enquiries/Order Form

About the book:
Georgie has written, Once the story had been told, I felt the need to try to help others in a similar situation. This book is primarily to help carers to hold on to some hope through the very bleak years. I'm hoping it will encourage them to stand up for their rights and insist on the very best possible care for the sufferer. Like the first book, I'm also hoping that sufferers obtain some respect, and carers far more support.

Professionals working in this field will find this book a valuable resource, giving them a far better insight. So much of their training is theory-based, so perhaps this book will fill at least a little of the huge divide between theory and practice.

Finally, perhaps it will go someway to educating the general public; in our experience, we are still living in the dark ages. Carers will not feel able to speak out until this horrendous situation is addressed and attitudes change.

Review from 'MentalHealth today' - Georgina Wakefield has written a great follow-up book to Schizophrenia: A mothers story. In this book, she focuses on the carer's perspective, using an interesting mixture of poetry and her own and other carers' experiences, thoughts of her son, who suffers from schizophrenia, and a succinct and informative contribution on the medical perspective by Dr LeFevre.

While the poems may not appeal to everyone, they are simple, effective and very moving, especially the ones about listening to carers and acknowldging that they actually exist.

Georgina touches on many topical issues, such as diagnosis, risk, confidentiality, advance directives, CPA, appropriate treatment involving not just medication but talking and art therapies, recovery, hope, community care, stigma, social exclusion, under funding and direct payments. She makes the point very strongly that a partnership is needed between 'the professionals' (mental health practitioners and social workers) and carers.

The Book is very readable and engrossing and i strongly recommend it to carers and family members, as it provides rare insight into their plight and to the essential role they play in the treatment of schizophrenia. In fact, it would make a very good training manual for professionals and should be essential reading for all new recruits to explain the crucial role played by carers and the extreme stress to which they are sujected. David Clark - NOV 2006

External Review 

 

 

 

Schizophrenia: Through the maze and fighting back.
A Book For Carers By Georgina Wakefield with D C Lefevre

Georgina Wakefield has produced a brilliant follow up to her first book Schizophrenia – a mother’s story. Like her first book it is interspersed with the most moving poetry, which at times will make you choke with tears.  However this book has  several very forceful messages she wishes to  put across, and  she also concentrates on  services which are important for the carer. Incisive observationns are offered as to what is the very best and worst of the system, telling examples of what needs to be put right in our own “back yard”.    From her own  knowledgeable experience through dealing with her son’s illness and the impact it has had on her and the family she recognises just how much stigma can exacerbate from the experience of being mentally ill.

 The main theme of the book is  that the way forward is to work in partnership .  Carers should be seen as partners in care and part of the clinical team; professionals should get to know carers in order to improve the care provided.  This partnership must extend to helping all carers to understand the condition  by education and training, and empowing carers. 

Other topics in the book are covered with equal importance.  The right medication is vital.  It can make a big difference in dealing with a condition that can cause so much suffering.  If you want a second opinion insist on one.  Medication is of course only one small part of the equation.  Much more is required, particularly theraputic help, occupational therapy, cognitive therapy, help with combating social isolation , help with managing oneself, help with housing, the list is endless. Georgina’s son Christian has recently been introduced to Psychotherapy at Basildon Hospital.  Dr Dianne Lefevre who is his Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy  says “with serious mental illness I believe there can be no single approach to what is a multi-system illness.  We are attempting to set up carers groups where topics such as the benefits of taking Omega 3 fats are combined with working psychotherapeutically  with “The Other Mind”.  There is a whole chapter in the book written by Dianne Cambell Lefevre with particular reference to understanding how the mind works , and she believes that everyone functions using two minds – a healthy self and another mind that pulls one away from creative relationships.  She also says that “working in two minds means that rather than seeing an individual as one person, functioning from one mind in one body, it is as if two people were functioning from one body.  That is to say, there is a healthy self and a psychotic self which I refer to as the “other mind”, and both operate autononomously”.  This is all very powerful and thought provoking stuff, and I think there is room here for a separate book to be written, and I very much hope that Dr  Cambell Lefevre will consider this and perhaps use some case studies to demonstrate how it all works, and how it can benefit recovery.

It is impossible to cover all the wealth of information Georgina gives in her book in this short review, but one final one that stands out concerns Direct Payments.  It is Georgina’s view that used properly, direct payments will improve the lives of both service users and carers; Direct payments can be used to  help with support for various options ;living in your own home, or  support you at work or college, personal care, cooking or cleaning,  leisure activities,   short breaks, or  support that will enhance social inclusion.  This is a wonderful helpful book and I recommend you to buy it immediately.