Westfield Author Wants To Eradicate Mental Health Stigma

WESTFIELD, NJ — Mental illness. Those two words are something that many struggle with in themselves or with loved ones. But it is seldom talked about and even thought of as taboo. So, instead many suffer in silence.

Breaking through that, Westfield native Michelle Dickinson-Moravek is sharing her very raw and emotional story of her life growing up with a mentally-ill mother and how that experience continues to compromise her as an adult.

In her new book, “Breaking Into My Life” she is hoping to raise awareness for mental illness and eradicate the stigma associated with it.

Dickinson-Moravek’s memoir is more than a book as she wants to help others and help prevent suicide.

“It took over three and a half years of digging deep within myself to share these emotional stories,” Dickinson-Moravek said. “It’s not a depressing book by any stretch of the imagination. ‘Breaking Into My Life’ demonstrates perseverance and that the past doesn’t dictate the future.”

In her book, she walks readers through the experiences of her life leading up to where she is now at age 46.

“I talk about what it was like as a little child trying to interpret my unstable mom. Talk about my adolescent in school and having to keep this secret because I didn’t want people to know my mom was crazy,” Dickinson-Moravek said. “I talk about my rebeling years and then learning to stand up for my own needs. Because as a caregiver everything revolves around them.”

Dickinson-Moravek goes on to share how her childhood experiences repeated themselves in her adult years.

“My first husband was very similar to my own mother and I didn’t see it until I was out of the marriage,” she said. “It was an emotionally abusive experience and I was finally able to break out and take a stand.”

It took her sometime to be able to speak out and share her story publicly.

“I always had a desire to tell people my story about living with someone with massive highs and devastating lows - bipolar disorder. But I never had the courage. I grew up with my own challenges, lack of self confidence and didn’t think what I said mattered,” Dickinson-Moravek said.

But by finally sharing her story she felt uplifted.

“Writing this book has been incredibly cathartic and a journey to heal,” Dickinson-Moravek said. “There is a stigma that prevents people from talking about it. Just in having conversations with others, people start to divulge things to me that they wouldn’t normally talk about. If I can be the source of conversation, I am happy with that.”

Dickinson-Moravek’s book is available on eBook now on Amazon Kindle here. And her paperback copies will be released in mid-February.

In the meantime, she blogs on her website to create more of a conversation and also does many speaking events.

For more information on her book, speaking events or blog visit breakingintomylife.com.

(Images and video via Michelle Dickinson-Moravek of Westfield)

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