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About the Book
A Shadow of Myself
My Journey from an Abusive Marriage and Psychotic Break to Healing
A Shadow of Myself is an intimate and deeply moving memoir that chronicles Elizabeth R. Tanner’s extraordinary journey through trauma, emotional abuse, mental illness, and ultimately, healing. With honesty and vulnerability, Elizabeth invites readers into the most difficult chapters of her life, revealing how years of emotional manipulation, psychological control, and shattered self-worth culminated in a devastating psychotic break—and how she found the strength to rebuild her life.
The memoir begins with Elizabeth’s childhood, exploring the experiences and family dynamics that shaped her understanding of love, obedience, and self-worth. As the story unfolds, readers witness the excitement of young love, followed by the gradual emergence of an emotionally abusive marriage. Through subtle manipulation, isolation, verbal abuse, and control, Elizabeth’s confidence slowly deteriorates, leaving her questioning her own reality.
As the emotional toll intensifies, the pressure eventually leads to a profound mental health crisis. Elizabeth recounts her psychotic break with remarkable openness, offering readers an honest perspective on an experience that is often misunderstood and rarely discussed. Rather than defining her, this life-altering event became the turning point that set her on a path toward recovery, self-discovery, and renewed purpose.
The final chapters focus on healing, forgiveness, and personal transformation. Elizabeth reflects on the lessons she learned through therapy, faith, resilience, and self-compassion, demonstrating that even after immense suffering, it is possible to rebuild a meaningful and fulfilling life.
More than a memoir, A Shadow of Myself is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It offers hope to survivors of abuse, encouragement to those struggling with mental health challenges, and reassurance that healing is possible, no matter how dark the journey may seem.
Whether you are a survivor, a caregiver, a mental health advocate, or simply someone seeking an inspiring true story, Elizabeth’s memoir is a powerful reminder that our past does not define our future.
About the Author
Elizabeth R. Tanner
Elizabeth R. Tanner is an author, artist, and survivor whose life has been defined not by the hardships she endured but by the strength she discovered through overcoming them. Her passion for helping others led her to share her deeply personal story in A Shadow of Myself, a memoir that sheds light on emotional abuse, mental illness, and the transformative power of healing.
Raised in a Swiss-American family, Elizabeth developed a deep appreciation for creativity, culture, and lifelong learning from an early age. Her professional journey included studying jewelry and metalsmithing before working as a jewelry designer and later pursuing her love of music through opera and vocal performance. Throughout her life, creativity remained an important source of expression and resilience.
Behind these accomplishments, however, Elizabeth faced years of emotional abuse that gradually eroded her confidence and sense of identity. The cumulative impact of trauma ultimately resulted in a psychotic break, an experience that profoundly changed the course of her life. Rather than allowing these events to define her, Elizabeth chose to confront her pain with courage, seeking healing through faith, self-reflection, and personal growth.
Today, Elizabeth is passionate about raising awareness of emotional abuse, mental health, and recovery. By sharing her story with honesty and compassion, she hopes to encourage survivors to recognize the signs of abuse, seek support without shame, and believe that healing is always possible.
Through A Shadow of Myself, Elizabeth offers more than her personal experiences—she offers hope. Her message is one of resilience, forgiveness, and the remarkable ability of the human spirit to overcome adversity. She believes that while our experiences shape us, they do not have to limit us, and that every person has the strength to reclaim their life and write a new chapter.
Elizabeth’s mission is simple yet profound: to remind every reader that no matter how broken life may feel, healing, hope, and renewal are always within reach.