A Review of The Hands That Held Me

The Hands That Held Me is a survivor’s true story detailing her horrific childhood abuse suffered while growing up. The author openly describes her journey of trauma, abuse, and addiction. It is a story filled with pain and redemption. It is also a story that is filled with hope and faith.

Symonds’ story begins with her childhood, which was marked by abuse, neglect, and addiction. She was raised in a home where drugs and alcohol were more important than her safety and well-being. She was repeatedly physically and sexually abused by her parents and other adults, and she was also trafficked as a child.

As a result of her childhood trauma, Symonds developed a number of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. She also turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with her pain. She became addicted to heroin and cocaine, and she spent many years living on the streets.

At the lowest point in her life, Symonds attempted suicide. However, she survived, and she began to slowly rebuild her life. She got sober, went back to school, and eventually earned a degree in public health. She is now a passionate advocate for survivors of trauma and addiction, and she uses her story to help others heal.

The Hands That Held Me is a powerful and important book. Symonds’ story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for recovery. The book is also a valuable resource for survivors of trauma and addiction. Symonds’ honest and open writing provides a glimpse into the challenges of recovery, but it also offers hope and inspiration.

This was an excellent and important story. I don’t think I have ever felt so emotional reading a book as I did with this one. It is a hard story to read but also one that you don’t want to put down. You can feel the pain the author feels. You experience the depths of darkness that the author was plunged into. It’s a heartbreaking story but also a story of the incredible resilience of the human spirit. Lisa Jo Symonds is a remarkable woman. She chose to tell her story to help bring awareness to child trafficking and to help others.

It is an inspiring story that shows people that they can always rise up, no matter how low they have fallen. It is best described in the author’s own words, “My hope is that you, as the reader, learn something from my words about yourself, or your loved-one who is stuck in the cycles resulting from childhood trauma and/or addiction. I hope you identify with my words and realize you are not crazy and you are not alone, and you most certainly are not to blame! But you are responsible for learning as much as you can about addiction from the latest research, and do your part to get clean. I promise there is hope, and it does not have to be this way!” ~ Lisa Jo Symonds

I highly recommend The Hands That Held Me to anyone who has been affected by trauma or addiction. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.