Safe, Wanted, and Loved: A Family Memoir of Mental Illness, Heartbreak, and Hope

by Patrick Dylan

  And let me state this clearly to ward off any music-industry attorneys: I am encouraging you to listen to this music! This story definitely has a soundtrack, and I wanted to share it.

  Acknowledgments

  A heartfelt thanks goes out to “Dr. Tom.” Without your prompting, this book never would have been started. I send deep gratitude to Caroline and Pete, who read very early drafts and gave me the confidence and encouragement to continue. I would also like to thank other friends who provided feedback and support along the way, including Paul, Irene, Charlene, Jeanine, Chris, Beth, Julie, Angela, Dave, Joe, Deb, and Bill. The generous dedication of your time and advice improved the manuscript by leaps and bounds. All of the good people at Girl Friday Productions deserve the credit for making this book a reality, especially Katherine, Katie, and Laura. And, of course, I owe the world to my editors: the eagle-eyed Brittany, the incredibly talented Diana, and the always-amazing Jackie.

  Thanks also to the many practitioners who provided care to us during this struggle, including John, Mike, Ronny, Eduardo, Jeremy, Jenny, Cathy, Alexander, and Stan. We will remain forever grateful for your advice and expertise.

  Finally, to my wife and two kids: your support meant everything. Said more correctly, you mean everything. “If we can get through that, we can get through anything.”

  About the Author

  Patrick Dylan joins the voices calling for an end to the stigma surrounding mental illness. He and his wife, Mia, live in Florida and have two college-age children. They hope that sharing their family’s story will spread awareness of the realities of mental illness and offer support to others who are either experiencing a mental health crisis or providing care to an affected loved one.