When Suzanne James's fianc passed away a week before their wedding, she was understandably shaken and depressed. As time went on, the pain lingered. She sought therapy to deal with the loss, and her therapist asked about James's family relationships. What kind of relationship did she have with her mother?
James had no way of knowing that her therapist's simple question would awaken horrific suppressed memories of child abuse. Years of physical and emotional mistreatment by her mother, stepfather, and siblings had been hidden behind thick psychological walls. James found herself crippled by post-traumatic stress. For months, she had nightmares and panic attacks as she came to terms with the reality of stolen childhood innocence.
James's memoir, UNBELIEVABLE: As the Wall Comes Tumbling Down, is a two-fold story. It's an examination of the abuse James endured and a study of her dysfunctional family dynamics, as well as a testimony to the power of therapeutic healing. Through cognitive therapy and behavioral exercises and modifications, James finally found inner peace. She writes to help others recognize and acknowledge child abuse, and begin the healing process of recovery.