I read Childhood Journey: Helping Children and Teens Fight Their Battles because I was curious about how psychiatry can help children cope with their own problems. The book was edited by Spes F. Romero-Reyes and Anna Vasquez, both veterans in their field. Reading it became a poignant experience because it brought me back to my childhood. I had my fair share of issues back then, which is part of growing up. Everyone encounters their own challenges, especially when they reach adolescence. The book brought me back to those issues, and some of it felt so familiar that I had to take breaks while reading it. Luckily, I was able to address my personal issues, and I am much better now. Also, reading has become one of my favorite pastimes, and I am thankful that to this day, this hobby still leads me to helpful resources such as this one.
The chapters were written by talented psychiatrists who took their time to describe various issues faced by children and adolescents as they grow up. It was difficult to read some parts of the book because they felt so familiar, that the words seemed to reverberate through my mind. It was painful to look back, but as I was taught in the past, it is always helpful to hurl myself back to the present. The present is all I have to address the issues at hand and to become a better individual. This book does not only help the general public understand young people, but everyone as well. After all, we were all children once.
Admittedly, it is a privilege to receive professional help. I hope that more people in the Philippines will consider taking better care of their mental health. Mental health is healthcare. Childhood Journey reminds us that if we give children the right tools to cope with their own issues, they will become better adults in the future. So, it is never too early or too late to get the help that we need.
Childhood Journey: Helping Children and Teens Fight Their Battles is now available!