Sanity's Lockdown: 1 Recognition

It is May 2020. The novel opens with an email from Joe Smart to his brother Shaun.

They have had minimal contact throughout their adult life after a childhood full of conflict.

Joe, says he has changed after help from two retired therapists in 2016 and that he is hoping they can be reconciled.

He sends his brother two attachments which describe and explain how he has changed.

He hopes Shaun will read them and get in touch. The first attachment called 'The Life and Times of a Snookered Rabbit' opens and we learn that Joe (a 35 year old) was at the Open Refuge Mental Health Clinic in November 2016 because his life was in a mess.

The write-up he says, is also a celebration of the work of Gregory More and Rowena Taylor, the two therapists, as well as a record of his treatment.

He says it is based on tapes that were made at the time as well as his own journal and memories.

He then goes on to describe Gregory More and his unconventional approach to therapy before moving into how he and Rowena helped him.

The story of Joe's early life unfolds through therapy sessions - how he loved his Dad, his Dad's death when he was nine and his conflicts with his brother.

It describes how he had a successful career in marketing before being made redundant.

His life then fell into chaos after he had two affairs and was asked to leave his home by his wife, Rosie. He does so and stays, with his dog Gracie, at his friends in Rob and Alison.

Rowena helps Joe with some art therapy and he also begins to learn about developing his emotional intelligence.

Joe is asked to keep a journal and to outline the patterns of his life.

He is then asked to to write an account of his recent actions and we learn from this that he has attempted suicide and was only approached by Gregory More when he was in hospital.

The therapists examine his written accounts of these recent events and through many conversations they begin to unpick the destructive habits that have led to his self-harming.

Gregory also begins to talk to him about the book he is writing and the various political events and personalities that have been around during Joe's life, including Brexit and the election of Donald Trump.

They have many lively discussions about such topics as well as many other subjects. Gradually, Joe settles into the routines and begins to open up and make progress.

He enjoys the meditation Greg's teaches him and his depression lifts and he becomes more active and positive about his life.

He would very much like to get back with his wife Rosie but he realises that it is going to be a long haul.

His self-knowledge is growing however. The conversations continue to be challenging and revealing and eventually Joe comes to see his brother Shaun in a new light - as someone who suffered as he did in a dysfunctional family.

The novel ends with Joe in a new and positive state of mind about his brother and his own future.

Greg is optimistic he will get well. The story will continue in a new book to be released as soon as possible.