READ THIS: Nowhere Near Normal by Traci Foust
Mental illness is a taboo subject for many, and Traci Foust should be commended for her frank discussion on her own experience with OCD, especially when she grew up in a time where it was not immediately recognized and it takes us until page 182 in the book until she is properly diagnosed, thus making the entire experience much more challenging for her. It must have taken a lot of courage to live this life and even more to write about it so honestly. Whom You Know is not preaching from a soapbox on this subject matter; we were approached by the publicist. We did read it and think it is worth a read by you as well to increase your understanding of this issue. By no means is this a happy or uplifting book, but as it is a gray day on the day the world goes back to work after a fabulous summer, we don't think we're ruining your mood...actually, this book is quite disturbing and if you've never interacted with someone that behaves like this you will be shocked. However, you should be aware of this level of OCD.
When most people think of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), germophobes and hoarders often come to mind. However, for many individuals struggling with OCD, the symptoms are varied and less obvious, making their condition difficult to diagnose. The situation is often worse for children, as they search for understanding whilst being told by adults to just act "normal."
Author Traci Foust (tinyurl.com/tracifoust) understands this situation all too well. In her memoir "Nowhere Near Normal" (Simon & Schuster 2011), Traci chronicles her life growing up with obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and clinical depression.
While the neighborhood kids were playing outdoors, seven-year-old Traci was inside making sure the miniature saint statuettes on her windowsill always pointed north, scratching out bald patches on her scalp, and worrying over bizarre anxieties, including a fear of the sun, an obsession with contracting eradicated diseases, and the idea that she could catch fire just by thinking about it. While stints of therapy – and lots of NyQuil – sometimes helped, nothing alleviated the fact that her divorced mother and mid-life crisis father had no idea how to deal with her.
Traci is now sharing her story with brutal honesty -- and humor. She's hitting the airwaves to discuss her memoir, her struggle with OCD, and the humorous and colorful events along the way.
Ask Traci:
-- What inspired her to share her personal story with the world in "Nowhere Near Normal"
-- How she survived the difficulties of a childhood with OCD
-- What advice she has for parents whose children are battling psychological disorders
-- How her journey affects her current relationships and career as a writer
Traci Foust has most recently appeared on "Tell Me More" with Michel Martin on NPR, KGO TV San Francisco, "San Diego Living" on XETV, The Gil Gross Program, "Lanigan & Malone" on WMJI-FM Cleveland, "Conversations" with Lizz Sommars on KISW-FM Seattle, "Brainstormin" with Bill Frank on KKZZ-AM Ventura, "A Minute More" with Larry Shannon, "Together Again" on BTR, "WPGM News" with Matthew James, and in Marie Claire... and has been met with excellent reviews. Traci received a degree in American Literature from UCSC. Her writing credits include The Black Satellite Anthology, as well as winning the Northern California Olympiad of the Arts award for contemporary short fiction. Her nonfiction has appeared in The Southern Review and Hyperlexia Literary Journal. A new short fiction piece will appear in the Fall 2011 issue of Echo Ink Review.
