Bloodletting/ -, letting /n. 1.Phlebotomy, the act or process of letting blood or bleeding, as by opening a vein or artery 2.Outmoded medical practise used as a cure for illnesses ranging from fevers to hysteria Bloodletting is a close relative of bulimia and anorexia; it is estimated that up to 1 per cent of the population has intentionally harmed itself - yet for the most part it is a behaviour that goes unspoken, dismissed as the attention-seeking actions of prison inmates or delinquent teenagers. If you ran into Victoria on the street during her darkest days you would never have known the torment she endured. Confident, polite and articulate, she could have been your sister, your friend or your lover. Yet from her late teens and throughout her twenties Victoria Leatham struggled with the overwhelming desire to hurt herself, a desire that was all consuming and shaped every aspect of her life. And while not everyone who feels stressed, insecure or depressed will physically turn upon themselves, anyone who has ever felt out of control will recognise the logic that drove her. Today Victoria is a happy, successful 30-something professional who only occasionally glances sideways at the bathroom cabinet.
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"'Bloodletting is a frank, eloquent memoir about one of society's last taboos. Leatham recounts her tale with a dark humour that makes you will her to overcome her demons. Truly compelling.' Sunday Telegraph Magazine"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Victoria Leatham is a pseudonym.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By raaz
Format:Hardcover
Very little has been written about the self harm and in her personal account "Bloodletting" Victoria Leatham tackles this subject. She writes openly and honestly about her gradual descent into mental illness and about her many hospitalisations without apology. Her honesty and frankness is astounding.
The author does not purport to be speaking for all who choose to cut themselves, she simply presents her story. She tells us what she did, why she did it and how this made her feel.
I was overcome with admiration for the bravery of this woman and I can only marvel at the strength of character it must have taken to keep picking herself up time and time again. She makes frank admissions regarding her alcohol and drug abuse and her promiscuity and throughout it all there is no finger pointing or blame laying.
I can't imagine how hard it must have been for the loyal people who loved her to keep supporting her when they could see that she was approaching self-destruct yet again.
The experiences Ms Leatham had whilst trying to find the help she knew she needed serve to highlight how little is really known about this particular facet of mental illness. This lack was evident even amongst health professionals including mental health practitioners. This lack of knowledge is really quite alarming.
This was a thoroughly compelling read. Easy to follow, funny and honest I couldn't put this book down. Throughout the entire story the courage of Victoria Leatham is breathtaking.
If this book raises awareness of some of the issues surrounding this illness, then it will be the most worthwhile book I have read so far this year.
I can't understand why people think that her book is lacking. Like she says this is her account as she remembers it.
... Read more ›14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I very much enjoyed this book. For years I have been a cutter, and I thourght perhaps if I read this I might understand why. As alot of other books go into to much detail that I cant understand, and are not written by people who have self harmed before.
Well I read this book within two days. Its was the best book I HAVE EVER READ, ITS FILLED WITH humour in parts, even though the subject is Taboo with people. She makes no great shakes in beating around the bush. She tells it how it is. This is what people need to understand.
For reasons I cant explain this book has helped me a great deal, and I feel that I am not alone in my self harming.
Read it, its a must!
Well I read this book within two days. Its was the best book I HAVE EVER READ, ITS FILLED WITH humour in parts, even though the subject is Taboo with people. She makes no great shakes in beating around the bush. She tells it how it is. This is what people need to understand.
For reasons I cant explain this book has helped me a great deal, and I feel that I am not alone in my self harming.
Read it, its a must!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I read this book and I really have to say: great! The style of writing is good. Nice to read. This is also the first book about self harm, that I would call realistic (I mean, yeah, of course it is, its wirtten by someone who experienced it...) but as well as that, she manages to make the reader feel with her and understand her feelings.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By H. ALAZHAR
Format:Paperback
I found this book rather boring. Although it does capture well some of the emotions behind self harm, it is very repetitive. The book was lacking any humour or wit- I know the subject matter doesn't lend itself to this but it lacked any kind of originality in terms of the style of writing. The majority of the book focussed on the mundane everyday aspects of life, such as moving and working. There was no colour to the writing as such, it may be a useful account in terms of helping people understand self harm but its very dull and does little to make you feel any connection or concern about the author. It doesn't really ever quite explain the complexities and severity of emotions behind self harm.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really liked this book, as a self harmer i could relate to the story
The only thing i found a little odd is that after almost every cut she went to have it stitched or so on...in my opinion,some may disagree, but you tend to not want anyone to know...thats my only fault with this book.
Still think you should read this book its very informative, but if you are a self harmer it can be triggering.
The only thing i found a little odd is that after almost every cut she went to have it stitched or so on...in my opinion,some may disagree, but you tend to not want anyone to know...thats my only fault with this book.
Still think you should read this book its very informative, but if you are a self harmer it can be triggering.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thought this book was excellent. Rather scary in parts as it was like reading my own thoughts on paper. Self harm is so misunderstood. This book gives a good insight for people who are interested in finding out why people self harm without being too heavy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By J. Roberts
Format:Paperback
This sensitively-written book looks at the adult life of a woman who self-harms, and attempts to shed some light on what is one of the few remaining taboos within society.
Victoria writes with both wit and clarity, but also with sensitivity. What she also does is offer a glimpse into the mindset of a self-harmer, and thus offer some insight into what compels someone to self-harm, and the variety of reasons an individual could have for doing so.
Besides the fact that Victoria has a natural gift for writing, this book is also vital because it draws attention to a mental health issue which is too often swept under the carpet. Many people sweepingly label self-harmers 'freaks' and proclaim that they do not understand why anyone would want to self-harm, maintaining that it achieves nothing. This masks the wider issue, which is the fact that modern life causes the depression or unhappiness which leads to self-harm. Often, people's exaggerated repulsion and horror at self-harm masks a deep-seated recognition, a recognition that despair or self-hatred are traits which they too might harbour, smothered deep down inside themself. More people need to try and understand self-harm, and stop having knee-jerk ignorant reactions to it. This would help bring mental health issues out into the open, where they quite clearly belong.
The impression that this book leaves me with is that ironically, it is very often high-achieving, intelligent and talented individuals who have a propensity for self-harm or self-disgust. In Victoria's case this is particularly true. The fact that a talented, intelligent and attractive young woman receives so little help for her unhappiness that she wishes to cut herself is perhaps one of the saddest facts of all.
Victoria writes with both wit and clarity, but also with sensitivity. What she also does is offer a glimpse into the mindset of a self-harmer, and thus offer some insight into what compels someone to self-harm, and the variety of reasons an individual could have for doing so.
Besides the fact that Victoria has a natural gift for writing, this book is also vital because it draws attention to a mental health issue which is too often swept under the carpet. Many people sweepingly label self-harmers 'freaks' and proclaim that they do not understand why anyone would want to self-harm, maintaining that it achieves nothing. This masks the wider issue, which is the fact that modern life causes the depression or unhappiness which leads to self-harm. Often, people's exaggerated repulsion and horror at self-harm masks a deep-seated recognition, a recognition that despair or self-hatred are traits which they too might harbour, smothered deep down inside themself. More people need to try and understand self-harm, and stop having knee-jerk ignorant reactions to it. This would help bring mental health issues out into the open, where they quite clearly belong.
The impression that this book leaves me with is that ironically, it is very often high-achieving, intelligent and talented individuals who have a propensity for self-harm or self-disgust. In Victoria's case this is particularly true. The fact that a talented, intelligent and attractive young woman receives so little help for her unhappiness that she wishes to cut herself is perhaps one of the saddest facts of all.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must for Understanding SH!!
I have owned this book for a good few years and I have re-read it at least 4 times! As a recovering self-harmer and sufferer of mental illness, I found this book interesting and... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2010 by Becky Borderline
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bloodletting
This book has been compared to Elizabeth Wurtzel's Prozac Nation in terms of breaking the silence on a social stigma - this time self harm. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by Holly Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars
among the best mental health memoirs
I really enjoy reading mental health related memoirs, and this one certainly does not disappoint. Ms. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2007 by Paul J. Fitzgerald
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutely superb
this book was like reading my diary. i have never found anyone's suffering so similar to mine before. Read more
Published on 10 July 2007 by Bet Pod
4.0 out of 5 stars
She speaks my mind
Reading this book felt like reading my own diary. What was most useful was giving the book to my family to read. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2007 by Fallen
5.0 out of 5 stars
bloodletting an amazing account of self herm
A very good book probably the best self harm book i have read. Very emoitional and very much like my life. A good book to read if you self harm or know somebody who does. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by Lucy Mccall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
Very, very good. So much of what she said resonated with my own thoughts and ideas. I think this is a good read for harmers and non-harmers alike. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2006 by A. Peters
5.0 out of 5 stars
bloodletting
This book is excellent as a self harmer I found it imformative and it helped me understand some of the feelings behind self harm. Read more
Published on 29 July 2006 by Lynn Alston
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good.
I did like this book. It manages to explain a lot of the feeling about self-harm and depression, and how this can affect your everyday life. Read more
Published on 15 May 2006 by Mandy
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