A Way Out: A Memoir of Conquering Depression and Social Anxiety by Michelle Balge

Rating: 5/5

*I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review*

Warning: this book is completely honest and deals with very heavy topics within mental health, therefore it may be triggering to some. If you are having a rough time currently or you feel you can't deal with these kind of ideas do not read this review, and please don't pick up this memoir.

This memoir focuses on Michelle's struggles with depression and social anxiety throughout her life. The book moves from the first signs of these, to coming to struggle with them seriously, to discovering what they are and how this impacts her life, and finally to how one can recover. It's a difficult story to read at times, but ultimately it's a story of fighting, determination, and hope.

I would like to start off with saying I am floored by the complete honesty and transparency Michelle has shown in sharing her own story and experiences with mental illness, this memoir is incredible raw and it really holds nothing back. As someone who has suffered seriously anxiety I found myself nodding along to parts of this book, and I've highlighted specific extracts which I can see myself completely. I completely admire her, as I know to share the deepest and darkest thoughts you've had is a daunting prospect.

This is is fantastic in the way it completely showcases what mental health problems really mean. Michelle carefully shows how depression and social anxiety impacted different parts of her life at different ages, and how this impacted her ability to live her life - something so many of us take for granted. She leaves no stone unturned and shows the full impact of these health problems, and the reader is left under no illusion of what depression and social anxiety really means.

Michelle is also able to inject just the right amount of humour and comedy into the book that readers aren't left struggle to cope with all the emotions thrown on them, and to shed light on one of the darkest of topics. Now don't get me wrong, I found some parts of this difficult to read because it was so raw and real, but I would have been disappointed if I hadn't encountered that; and I will admit by the end of this I was shedding a few tears. However saying that I think Michelle creates a perfect balance between the two so we're never left feeling over or underwhelmed.

I also love this because it showcases different types of treatment, and instead of just mentioning them and not fully explaining the process of each, Michelle goes into great detail about what each treatment meant for her and how it worked. I have never seen this before and I'm really happy it's there. There were also important lessons in here about how recover really works, as not always is the road to recovery a smooth one.

This memoir could be read by anyone, as long as someone who suffers from mental health problems are in the right place to do I think this would be a great story to read, but also for those who have never encountered mental health issues. This book details mental health problems for what they are, and I think you would find it hard to find something as honest as this.

Michelle, thank you for letting me read this, it was nothing less than stunning and you truly inspire me.

A Way Out: A Memoir of Conquering Depression and Social Anxiety is out tomorrow on the 27th February. Please pick it up, it is so worth it. 

This is compiled list of mental health helplines by The NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/mental-health-helplines.aspx

For anyone living in the USA: http://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/resources/mental-health-hotline-numbers-and-referral-resources/ 

Suicide crisis lines around The World: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines7