Behind the Facade
A Mental Health Memoir
by Lauren Bartleson
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Oct 13 2022 | Archive Date Feb 15 2023
Description
Raw, real, and heartbreakingly honest, Behind the Facade is one woman’s journey of overcoming everyday trauma.
To the outside world, Lauren Bartleson had it all: her dream job, an award-winning blog, and a picture-perfect marriage. Online and in person, she put on a smile, trying to convince herself as much as others that she was okay. In reality, she was anything but.
Behind the facade, Lauren was struggling to manage two autoimmune diseases, insomnia, chronic anxiety, deep depression, debilitating pain, and the long-term effects of extreme bullying, betrayal, and losing her soulmate. In her darkest moments, she considered suicide on a daily, often hourly, basis. No one, not even her family, knew how much she was suffering.
In Behind the Facade: A Mental Health Memoir, Lauren pulls back the curtain, giving a glimpse into the memories that she buried deep inside, never to see the light of day. By sharing the stories that are helping her heal, Lauren hopes to do her part in breaking the stigma around mental health and inspire others to feel less alone in their journey.
Advance Praise
It's not easy to tell such a powerful, raw, and passionate story. Lauren's beautiful voice brings her journey to life in a combination of vulnerability and strength that will help many others. - Dr. Barbara Jaffe, author of When Will I Be Good Enough?
I just finished reading Behind the Facade. I'm still wiping away tears. What a powerful work you have accomplished. Your courage is immeasurable. - Beta reader
It takes a very strong soul to be able to share the highs and lows of life with the world. You not only did that but handled it with complete vulnerability and openness. Such a great read, and I think it will really help others understand they're never alone. Thank you for your willingness to share. - Beta reader
Your book is f*cking amazing. Seriously. You’re the bravest person I know. - Beta reader
Available Editions
ISBN | 9798885045742 |
PRICE | |
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Featured Reviews
First off thank you kindly to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc. I am blessed to have been able to dive into this beautiful (yet sad) memoir.
This was a book I couldn’t put down, I am a huge advocate for all things mental health and as sad as some stories can be (with some of the most tragic outcomes) I love reading what people have gone through, their stories wildly inspiring. Lauren’s is just that. Her story jumped off the page for me.
It’s never easy to navigate mental health, but add on social media, work, and life and it’s easy to find yourself lost. Lauren has worked so hard to live a life she doesn’t have to hide under the covers for. Thank you for sharing your story.
could not read this book fast enough!
I related to author Lauren Bartleson’s story on so many levels. Behind the Facade is a raw and vulnerable account of one woman’s life. From the lows of childhood bullying, struggling with weight, bouts of depression and anxiety to the highs of finding true love, correct diagnosis, and becoming a competitive athlete, Bartelson has truly dealt with it all.
Bartleson is nothing short of courageous. She advocated for her own mental and physical health while laying it out for all to see. Her journey shed light into the medical world and how disproportionately available health care is for the American public.
I could go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Just know that this is a phenomenal read and I cannot recommend it enough!
Special thanks to NetGalley.com and New Degree Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with access to this book for the purpose of the review.
As someone on their own healing journey I found Lauren's memoir to be an excellent read. I enjoyed how she showcased all aspects of her life. The good and the bad and all the in between. I was inspired to keep going with my own writing after learning about how the book came to be.
Some of my favorite parts of the book were about her relationship with her dad and mom and brother too. I enjoyed the glimpse into her family's dynamic and she wrote about it in a descriptive and engaging way.
I feel like this is a good book for a lot of the women I have met online that are struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. In fact, it would be great for therapists to suggest to their clients as well!
Bravo, Lauren! Thanks for keeping it authentic and letting us know it's ok to keep going even when it's difficult to do so.