‘Mind Gone Astray’: New Book Looks at Schizophrenia from a Spouse’s Perspective

Print |

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 6, 2009 — There is nothing more frightening than the loss of one’s grip on what is real. That fear, however, is not isolated to the individual suffering the break, but their friends and loved ones as well. “Mind Gone Astray” (published by iUniverse) by Wayne Kallio, examines the impact that this type of illness has on not only the victim, but also the people around them.

Kaija was an intelligent, educated and articulate woman. It was a devastating blow when, without warning, her mind succumbed to a sudden-onset psychosis. Her husband Charles, an English teacher, arrived home from school to be greeted by his wife’s bizarre and frightening hallucinations. For Charles to see his normally vibrant and rational wife in such a state was a terrifying proposition. After much persuasion, she is hospitalized locally as doctors try desperately to discover what the illness is. And just as importantly, what might be causing it. Was it a brain tumor? Could it be early onset Alzheimer’s? Perhaps the break was a result of a simple lack of vital minerals or nutrients? Possibly some type of Dementia? No one knew.

“Mind Gone Astray” tells not only the story of Kaija’s battle to overcome her schizophrenia and regain her mental stability, but the hardships faced by her loving husband in his struggle to care for his wife. While most books regarding mental health issues are either a clinical examination or focus solely on the victim, “Mind Gone Astray” is told from the perspective of a loving spouse and care giver and people surrounding them who are helpless to aid Kaija.

Wednesday, June 8

Kills me to have to stay away. Nurse asked me to give it a couple more days. They’d given her some Seraltine, or Sertraline or something, to help her sleep. Referred to it as Zoloft also – confusing. Maybe one is a brand name and the other is generic. New psychiatrist is going to take over, a Dr. Lewis. Nurse assured me that this guy had recently received his Doctorate degree and was right up on all the latest developments in psychiatry and antipsychotic medications.

Wayne Kallio was born and raised on the Saskatchewan prairie. Kallio earned his B.Ed. and M.A. at the University of Regina. Possessing, even at that time, an interest in writing novels, Kallio recognized that writing a compelling character required an understanding of people, their thought processes and behavior. As such, he took a keen interest in the University’s psychology program and took as many classes as his course load would allow. Kallio embarked on a teaching career in English that took him from Saskatchewan to Manitoba, Phoenix, Finland and China. He and his wife of 43 years retired to Kallio’s beloved Saskatchewan, where they currently reside and he teaches part time.

iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.iuniverse.com.