Reviews by Helena Smole

“I really enjoyed reading this, and it’s definitely one that will make you think. The fantasy elements allow you to take a new look at different issues and the way people behave, and I think there are some great messages in this. I really liked getting to know the characters of Izzy and Vivvy and all the other people involved in their lives – a very interesting and enjoyable read.” – Mrs Justine J Royal

This book was a complete joy to read! The depth of the characters & plot were unique & engaging. It was so fun to see what Izzy & Vivvy were going to do next, all at the same time discovering the best & not so best about humanity. The end will leave you cheering! - by RS

“Mental issues lead to having to approach happiness in a new direction. “Balancing the Beast: A Bright View of Schizoaffective Disorder” is a guide from Helena Smole aimed at those coping with the titular disorder and struggling to control it all. With humor and determination, Smole presents simple wisdom of having to deal with your life, and overcoming it all, while not blaming yourself. “Balancing the Beast” is a useful read that is very much worth considering for those faced with Schizoaffective disorder.” – Michael Dunford, Midwest Book Review

Joe Kraynak published Smole’s Bipolar Bio in a new edition of his Bipolar Disorder for Dummies in autumn of 2012! Read it here.

You can also read Kraynak‘s review of Balancing the Beast:

Smole provides keen insight into the experience of a severe mental breakdown, important reminders about taking enough time and investing enough focus on recovery, and helpful information on the treatments, therapies, self-help techniques, and supports that she has tried over the course of her recovery and is currently practicing to maintain her mental health and well-being.
People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses and their loved ones are likely to benefit from Smole’s description of the series of breakdowns she experienced on the road to accepting the fact that she has a mental illness. She describes the fear and denial she had to overcome. Her over 11 years of denial seem inconceivable, but when you read about her journey, it seems perfectly understandable why the diagnosis can be so difficult to accept.
What struck me most about Smole’s journey is how hard she worked at her recovery, and this is true for many who struggle with mental illness. It is almost like a full-time or at least a half-time job to keep appointments with doctors and therapists, research the illness and different medication and treatment options, keep a log of moods and medication changes, engage in therapy and self-help strategies, and make lifestyle adjustments to remove stressors and triggers.
Smole also reminds us that recovery doesn’t necessarily mean a return to life as it was before diagnosis. Recovery can be a rebirth, a transformation to a new and better life. Such a hopeful message is always welcome.
Joe Kraynak, a co-author of Bipolar Disorder for Dummies; see PsychCentral.

A five-star-review for my book by a psychiatrist from USA (July 2013):

Balancing the Beast: A Bright View of Schizoaffective Disorder is a wonderful book which does a great job explaining schizoaffective disorder. It is very well written and easy to read. It covers the differential diagnosis and various treatment options. This is a great book for both psychiatrists and their patients. I give it a 5 star Excellent rating. – By Gregg L. Friedman MD, Psychiatrist , Hallandale Beach, FL