In a story of remarkable perseverance, Helen Joy writes a memoir of her unusual childhood, her mental breakdown at age 31, and how she fought for a year to stay alive in the mental healthcare system. Yellow Tulips is filled with the ugly truth that is mental healthcare in this country, but is beautifully woven with threads of hope, family, and resilience. This book is a must read for those who want to love others better.
This book of poems explores a codependent woman growing up in cultish, evangelicalism. She explores how her childhood allowed her to disassociate from a young age. She gets married at 19 to her first boyfriend and stays in an emotionally abusive marriage for almost 2 decades. Helen Joy experienced extreme depression, self harm, and suicidal ideation as she stays in the marriage like a "good Christian wife" should. Following a suicide attempt she finally leaves the marriage and embarks on a healing journey as she unravels decades of pain, including pain from her church. The poems and photo portraits are grief stricken and yet hopeful.ne can make all the difference.