What Have I Done?
What Have I Done? by Laura Dockrill, published by Penguin Random House in 2020, is a personal memoir that delves into the complexities of motherhood and mental health. Spanning 352 pages, this book recounts Laura’s harrowing experience during and after childbirth, where she faced a traumatic birth and subsequent struggles with anxiety and sleep deprivation. As her feelings escalated into post-partum psychosis, Laura’s journey took a dark turn, leading to her institutionalization when her baby was just three weeks old.
In this candid account, readers will find a narrative that not only highlights the challenges of new motherhood but also emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health issues. Laura’s reflections serve to break the stigma surrounding post-natal mental health and challenge the idealized notions of motherhood. Through her writing, she aims to empower parents by sharing her story of recovery and resilience, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles. This edition provides a raw and honest exploration of family, relationships, and the realities of parenting in the face of mental health challenges.
Official synopsis Publisher
Laura couldn’t wait to meet her new baby. But as she went into labour things began to go wrong and Laura started to struggle. A traumatic birth, anxiety about the baby, sleep deprivation, a slow recovery – all these things piled up until Laura (like any new mum) felt overwhelmed. As many as 8 out of 10 new mums struggle in the weeks after birth. Laura had never experienced mental illness before and was reassured by family, friends and professionals that what she was feeling was ‘normal.’ But in Laura’s case these feelings escalated scarily quickly into post-partum psychosis; a rare and debilitating illness. Within a matter of days Laura became paranoid, delusional and suicidal. And when her baby was just three weeks old, on Mother’s Day, Laura was institutionalised without her baby. Throughout this time she was haunted by a sense of: ‘What have I done?’ It wasn’t until Laura began to put her story into words (on her phone whilst her son slept) that she began to find herself again and recovery seemed within reach; these are those words. Despite this gruelling experience, Laura’s story is a hopeful one. Not only has she got better, she has come out the other side stronger and more assured. Now she is determined to break the stigma around post-natal mental health, shatter the romanticised expectations of perfect motherhood, and to empower parents: you are not alone.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “What Have I Done?” about?
Who is the author of “What Have I Done?”?
When was “What Have I Done?” published?
What is the ISBN for “What Have I Done?”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
