David Willmott
Published: 2011-06-01
Total Pages: 410
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DescriptionLife for some is torture and suffering. David has suffered. This book is about David's recovery and documents his rise from a life of addiction to sleeping pills (diazepam), intense depression and suicide attempts. David has been in and out of hospital, experiences that would have ruined a lesser person but that have only served to make him stronger. Anybody who has experience of mental illness will find resonance in this book, it is emotional and dark but ultimately it's a tale of recovery. About the AuthorDavid Wilmott was born in 1956, to a catholic family. One of seven children, he grew up in Bedfordshire. At the age of thirteen David left school to train as a priest in St. Albans. David was an exceptional footballer and was expected to become a professional but instead he opted to take up the hippy lifestyle.David became addicted to amphetamine at an early age and was admitted to an institution at the age of 16 after overdosing, David subsequently spent much of his teens in and out of hospitals as he battled his addiction. During this time David almost died from Hepatitis B and suffered many overdoses. Having conquered his addictions in his twenties, David worked in various sales positions before setting up his own business, a recording studio, in an old hat factory in Luton! After the eventual failure of his business (due to a series of burglaries) and his divorce David suffered a breakdown and became addicted to prescription tranquilisers. He eventually moved to live with his parents in Kendal where, after one suicide attempt, he met his second wife. His second marriage also ended in divorce under the strain of his depression.David now lives next-door to his wife and six of his eight children. Currently David is unable to work, has no appetite or energy and suffers from extreme mood swings. David has lost all faith in adults and as he puts it 'society's (post Thatcher) shallow and sad vested interests and general greed for all things' he hopes his book will help people to understand that life is not all about attainment and fulfilment through greed, thus helping to right some of society's wrongs. ReviewIt is a very, very wonderful book. It is still so painful and personal (and I am in awe of your courage in publishing it), it is probably one of the most moving things I have ever read. I am more than a little impressed with how you manage to cope with all the things you do. And what comes over more than anything is the vast amount of love you have inside and are able to give. This is - very obviously - your love for your family (children first and most, quite rightly), but also your love for friends, colleagues and unempowered humanity generally. I always thought you were one of the good guys, and now I know it. Through all your misery of depression and associated problems (not to mention your poor arse, of course) there shines a huge and dazzling light of wit, charm, intellect, compassion, generosity and understanding. These are all facets of a person I value most highly and I am gobsmacked by your ability (yeah, I know it's often stretched beyond breaking) to keep hold of them. Yes - you do! It is a privilege to know you. Thank you for the book. Do another. - By Tony Cooke, local health worker