Surviving Me
Jo Johnson
Synopsis:
Deceit has a certain allure when your life doesn’t match up to the ideal of what it means to be a modern man.
Tom's lost his job and now he's been labelled 'spermless'. He doesn't exactly feel like a modern man, although his double life helps. Yet when his secret identity threatens to unravel, he starts to lose the plot and comes perilously close to the edge.
All the while Adam has his own duplicity, albeit for very different reasons, reasons which will blow the family's future out of the water.
If they can't be honest with themselves, and everyone else, then things are going to get a whole lot more complicated.
This book tackles hard issues such as male depression, dysfunctional families and degenerative diseases in an honest, life-affirming and often humorous way. It focuses particularly on the challenges of being male in today’s world and explores how our silence on these big issues can help push men to the brink.
Purchase Links:
CA - https://www.amazon.ca/Surviving-Me-Jo-Johnson/dp/1789650615
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surviving-Me-Jo-Johnson/dp/1789650615
US - https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Me-Jo-Johnson/dp/1789650615
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/48660416-surviving-me
Grief isn’t only about death.
‘Surviving Me’ is about two men whose minds become unfit for purpose. On the front of the novel, this elevator pitch is written.
“Tom has decided he doesn’t want to live. Adam wishes he has that choice.”
There are many themes in the book but one key thread is unresolved grief, the feelings people have when they experience loss which is unacknowledged by others.
Loss is not only about death. Feelings of grief can arise in response to many different types of loss. Examples of loss that are unrelated to death include the following:-
- Loss of identity when a job is lost, when a divorce occurs or when children leave home.
- Loss of your hopes and dreams or expectations, for example if you are unable to have children or a child or loved one is diagnosed with ill health and you have to care for them.
- Loss of Autonomy when you become unable to care for yourself due to ill health or disability.
The experience of loss makes people vulnerable to feelings of depression and anxiety. Multiple losses in a short time can sometimes result in a catastrophic reaction.
Some believe grief occurs in stages. Probably the most famous formulation of the stages of grief was developed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. She proposed the key stages of grief are shock and denial, anger, bargaining to get rid of the experience and feelings, sadness and depression, and finally acceptance.
I’m very excited that my debut novel ‘Surviving Me’ is due to be published on the 14 November. The novel is about male minds and what pushes a regular man to the edge. The novel combines all the themes I can write about with authenticity.
I qualified as a clinical psychologist in 1992 and initially worked with people with learning disabilities before moving into the field of neurology in 1996. I worked in the NHS until 2008 when i left to write and explore new projects.
I now work as an independent clinical psychologist in West Sussex.
Jo speaks and writes for several national neurology charities including Headway and the MS Trust. Client and family related publications include, “Talking to your kids about MS”, “My mum makes the best cakes” and “Shrinking the Smirch”.
In the last few years Jo has been offering psychological intervention using the acceptance and commitment therapeutic model (ACT) which is the most up to date version of CBT. She is now using THE ACT model in a range of organisations such as the police to help employees protect their minds in order to avoid symptoms of stress and work related burnout.
Social Media Link:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/shrinkingthesmirch/
Giveaway to Win two signed copies of Surviving Me & five Surviving Me fridge magnets (Open INT)
1st Prize - 2 winners each winning a signed copy of Surviving Me
5 Runners Up - each winning a Surviving Me Fridge Magnet
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Guest Post:
‘Surviving Me’ is about two men whose minds become unfit for purpose. On the front of the novel, this elevator pitch is written.
“Tom has decided he doesn’t want to live. Adam wishes he has that choice.”
There are many themes in the book but one key thread is unresolved grief, the feelings people have when they experience loss which is unacknowledged by others.
Loss is not only about death. Feelings of grief can arise in response to many different types of loss. Examples of loss that are unrelated to death include the following:-
- Loss of identity when a job is lost, when a divorce occurs or when children leave home.
- Loss of your hopes and dreams or expectations, for example if you are unable to have children or a child or loved one is diagnosed with ill health and you have to care for them.
- Loss of Autonomy when you become unable to care for yourself due to ill health or disability.
The experience of loss makes people vulnerable to feelings of depression and anxiety. Multiple losses in a short time can sometimes result in a catastrophic reaction.
Some believe grief occurs in stages. Probably the most famous formulation of the stages of grief was developed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. She proposed the key stages of grief are shock and denial, anger, bargaining to get rid of the experience and feelings, sadness and depression, and finally acceptance.
The problem with the idea of stages is that human beings are not straightforward, everyone is different with a different personality, past and life. These factors are all important in terms of how you experience loss.
Feelings of grief in response to loss last for many years.
As a society we recognise feelings of grief after the death of a loved one but often we are not good at recognising these other forms of loss. This means that many may be feeling unacknowledged grief. This can make the feelings more intense and more likely to remain unresolved.
In my novel, Tom, the main character doesn’t have a happy childhood. It’s not terrible, the kitchen is clean but his mother is withdrawn and his father is a bully. As a little boy he feels inadequate and wimpy. It’s hard for him to ignore the inner voice in his head that reminds him of the cruel things his father said to him as a child.
In his twenties, life is good so his inner voice is quietened. He pushes himself hard to prove he is good enough but remains vulnerable to believing whatever others say about him.
When he experiences several major losses, his job, his fertility and his brother in law, old feelings of anxiety and low mood resurface. Over time, he listens more to this inner voice and less and less to the people around him. He loses contact with the things he cares about and life becomes meaningless.
Surviving Me” tackles hard issues such as depression, male suicide and degenerative disease. It focuses particularly on the challenges of being male in today’s world and explores how our silence on these big issues can help push men to the brink.
Follow this link to read 120 reviews or to purchase the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surviving-Me-Jo-Johnson/dp/1789650615
Jo Johnson is a clinical psychologist specializing in neurological disorders and mind health.
Feelings of grief in response to loss last for many years.
As a society we recognise feelings of grief after the death of a loved one but often we are not good at recognising these other forms of loss. This means that many may be feeling unacknowledged grief. This can make the feelings more intense and more likely to remain unresolved.
In my novel, Tom, the main character doesn’t have a happy childhood. It’s not terrible, the kitchen is clean but his mother is withdrawn and his father is a bully. As a little boy he feels inadequate and wimpy. It’s hard for him to ignore the inner voice in his head that reminds him of the cruel things his father said to him as a child.
In his twenties, life is good so his inner voice is quietened. He pushes himself hard to prove he is good enough but remains vulnerable to believing whatever others say about him.
When he experiences several major losses, his job, his fertility and his brother in law, old feelings of anxiety and low mood resurface. Over time, he listens more to this inner voice and less and less to the people around him. He loses contact with the things he cares about and life becomes meaningless.
Surviving Me” tackles hard issues such as depression, male suicide and degenerative disease. It focuses particularly on the challenges of being male in today’s world and explores how our silence on these big issues can help push men to the brink.
Follow this link to read 120 reviews or to purchase the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surviving-Me-Jo-Johnson/dp/1789650615
Jo Johnson is a clinical psychologist specializing in neurological disorders and mind health.
Author Bio
I qualified as a clinical psychologist in 1992 and initially worked with people with learning disabilities before moving into the field of neurology in 1996. I worked in the NHS until 2008 when i left to write and explore new projects.
I now work as an independent clinical psychologist in West Sussex.
Jo speaks and writes for several national neurology charities including Headway and the MS Trust. Client and family related publications include, “Talking to your kids about MS”, “My mum makes the best cakes” and “Shrinking the Smirch”.
In the last few years Jo has been offering psychological intervention using the acceptance and commitment therapeutic model (ACT) which is the most up to date version of CBT. She is now using THE ACT model in a range of organisations such as the police to help employees protect their minds in order to avoid symptoms of stress and work related burnout.
Social Media Link:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/shrinkingthesmirch/
Giveaway:
1st Prize - 2 winners each winning a signed copy of Surviving Me
5 Runners Up - each winning a Surviving Me Fridge Magnet
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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