Description

Poetry by a Mental Health Service User and Animal Lover
By Isla Demuth

ISBN: 978-1-84991-794-0
Published: 2012
Pages: 68
Key Themes: poetry, Borderline Personality Disorder, psychosis, animals

Description

Islas book is in essence a poetry book about the things that matter in her life, animals and the fight with her mental illness.

At the end of the book 3 short stories of the authors experience with her animals are included. The speciality is the story of a seagull experience with Isla.

About the Author

Isla Demuth was born in Germany, 1970. At the age of 5 years old, she and her younger brother were taken in to care. The authorities took this step due to the mental state of Islas mother, who was also very abusive. In Burg Seinsfeld Isla and her brother stayed until their fathers suicide in 1980. Two years at home with her mother followed, which resulted in lots of physical and mental abuse for the children. The authorities stepped in yet again and both children were taken in to care. Isla stayed in care until the age of 20. She then lived in a family home and did a 3 year apprenticeship in merchandise. The apprenticeship went well despite frequently running away from her orderly life, and living rough for short periods of time. This was a habit acquired in the care-homes and did not stop in adulthood.

At the age of 23, Isla ran away again, and leaving Germany behind came to Britain. Here she found for a while a home with a religious community. A suicide attempt, of which there have been many since her fathers death, made life at the community impossible. Soon Isla became even more unwell and turned to arson. Prison in Broadmoor followed. In 2003 Isla was deemed fit for a medium secure setting where she stayed until 2007. A year in the community, followed by a rapid mental decline in a Gloucester care home.

Isla is at present back in hospital where she recovers from a psychosis and is treated for her Borderline Personality Disorder.