Saving Our Last Nerve
The Black Woman’s Path to Mental Health*
by Marilyn Martin, M.D., M.P.H.

Reviewed by by Janie Edwards

Are your boss, boyfriend, brother getting on your last nerves? Are your co-workers, girlfriend, sister getting on your last nerves? What about your spouse, your kids, your roommates – well, before you kick the cat and the dog, and let the goldfish die... read Dr. Marilyn Martin’s book and save your last nerve!!!

Dr. Martin, a speaker at the NAMI Illinois State Conference on Oct. 16th. treated her audience to a great talk complete with slide show using cartoons and illustrations interspersed with points she was making about depression. One slide “Are you committing suicide on the installment plan – diabetes, overeating, lack of exercise, substance abuse, unprotected sex”-- was particularly attention-grabbing and made me want to buy her book.

The author, who is a wonderful story-teller, punctuates her book with fables from the African culture which we can all use to help each other with our recovery. Although her book was written to reach Black women who are taught that it is shameful and weak to seek therapy and guidance on life’s path, I believe her message transcends the color line.

Saving Our Last Nerve uses actual case histories of women who courageously tell their stories. According to the author, “Nobody has to be locked into childhood emotional patterns. We are free to find mental health.” The book talks about how many of us when feeling angry, frustrated, depressed, or lonely will shop, go eat pizza and ice cream, drink margaritas, etc. and then hate ourselves more. Some of the above behaviors may be okay occasionally, but her message is that we need a better plan.

Dr. Martin covers topics such as how to grieve successfully, myths of depression, raising families, improving self-esteem, dependency and self-reliance, love, intimacy and relationship, meds and therapy. Her chapters have attention-getting titles such as “There Is No Medicine to Cure Hatred” and “When One Is In Trouble, One Remembers God.”

Each chapter contains a practical exercise to do and ends with steps to optimum mental health and a list of materials including movies that one can find in any video store.

Whether you are a consumer, family member, or professional, read this book and save your last nerve!
 

*available for check-out from NAMI Madison County.