Smiling Through Recovery

by Savannah-Alicia Lloyd

This book portrays the journey of one teenager's life-long descent into mental illness. Smiling Through Recovery focuses on the struggle of mental illness, highlighting thoughts of suicide, self-harm, bullying, personality disorders, anxiety and depression. "I remember my first suicide attempt as though it were yesterday. I was sitting on the ski lift, getting ready to ski down from one of the highest mountains in the ski village. My hands were numb with coldness, my breath clouded the cold air with warmth. I was perched forward on the seat, staring down at my feet and the world below. I felt sick, trapped. There was no way I could get off this ski lift, especially when my 'bullies' were present. That's when the moment hit. My ice-blue fingers curled around the solid silver bar and I began to pull it up. Nothing was stopping me from falling now. I scooted myself forward, tears burning my eyes as they collided with the harsh wind. I was ready, or at least I thought. Just as I was about to slide off and meet my death, my bully pulled the bar back, wondering what on earth I was doing. I got off the ski lift at the top of the mountain and I was numb. I forced myself down the slope, and I never got back up..."