A Story of Faith, Resilience, and Survival
Memoir / Self-Help
Date Published: March 30, 2022
Publisher: Fideli Publishing, Incorporated
A cathartic experience that examines both the power of determination and the will to survive.
In her memoir, Getting To My Enough, Dr. Marie Brown Mercadel describes her remarkable journey of persevering through unspeakable childhood sexual trauma, the loss of a baby at an early age, and her tenacious resolve to get to her enough. Her frank and detailed descriptions of her life experiences are riveting and provide proof that it is possible to achieve personal triumphs in spite of the odds.
She is courageous in writing about the deep-seated emotions that caused her to be overwhelmed with self-doubt, fear, and shame for much of her adult life. Her acts of forgiveness and the adoption of self-love represent an important source of her healing.
Getting To My Enough reveals how a broken and damaged girl gained inner peace, affirmed the positive aspects of her life, and embarked on a mission to mentor and motivate women dealing with similar issues.
What is the underlying message of your book?
A
priority message is to enhance awareness around the importance of black mental
health and reducing/eliminating the stigma that is associated with mental
illness. In the Black community speaking
about mental illness is taboo, and as a result many people suffer in silence
and do not receive the lifesaving treatment that they need to heal.
Each
person has a backstory and we all face challenges in life. If we want to live our truths, we must first
address the mental barriers that keep us from “getting to our enough”. It is okay NOT to be okay and to seek the
supports we need to be our best selves.
We need to learn to practice self-care, give ourselves grace and
forgiveness when needed, and release the invisible emotional burden of trauma
that we carry on our back each day.
What genre would you describe your book as?
Self-help/Memoir
What’s ONE exciting thing about your book
you want the whole world to know?
Healing
and post-traumatic growth is possible when we are willing to do the work within
ourselves.
Briefly describe a few key points from
your book.
The
author of this book shares a straighforward depiction of her journey of living
through the post-traumatic effects of
childhood sexual abuse. Her candid descriptions of her experiences are riveting
and she shares her personal experiences with candor and authenticity. Getting
to My Enough, A Story of Faith, Resilience, and Survival is a story of inspiration, resilience, and
courage.
How has your background influenced you to
write this book?
As
a human services executive and a survivor, I aim to elevate knowledge about the
prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of mental
wellness. According to the Center for
Disease Control, 1/4 girls and 1/13 boys are sexually abused by the age of 18;
90% of the perpetuators are family members.
Many of these incidences are kept in secret allowing the generational
cycle of abuse to continue. As result of
abuse, many children/adults suffer from depression, anxiety, and other
disorders in silence because of the stigma in the Black community that is
associated with receiving mental health services.
What are a few adjectives you’d use to
describe your book to a stranger?
Emotional,
cathartic, engaging, inspiring, motivating
What about your book makes you the most
excited?
Sharing
my story with others has resulted in women experiencing their own breakthroughs,
discussing their trauma, and seeking the resources they need to begin their
process of healing. Since the launch of the book I have hosted Sip & Heal
events with over 500 women in California, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and North
Carolina – during these events we discuss my story and have open conversations
that are prompted by guided discussion questions. I am excited that my book has
been a catalyst for healing and dispelling the myths associated with talking
about mental health.
About the Author
Dr. Marie Brown Mercadel is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and a retired human services executive with 38 years of experience serving communities across the nation. She currently manages a consulting business that specializes in individual coaching, motivational speaking, and strengths-based leadership development. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Alvin.
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