Changing Lives By Sharing My Experiences

By Lois Thomson

"My life is a drama series, but if I have to live through these things I want it to be for some good; I want to help people."

Drama has definitely been a major part of So Zu Be's life. Diagnosed with MS at age 19, she then learned seven years later that she had a brain tumor. Just one of these events would be traumatic, but Zu chose to focus on a different approach. She explained, "My diagnosis with MS happened so intensely, I had no idea what was going on. I was 19, a sophomore in college. I had lost complete mobility on the right side of my body, my parents were told I would never walk again. I had to go through physical and occupational therapy. My life changed forever."

Part of her therapy included journaling, and Zu said people encouraged her to write a book about her experiences. "I was 19 and I was trying to find my footing as an adult with this newfound disability, so I shelved that. I knew I would do it one day, but then one day I woke up and I was 30, and I thought, 'Maybe I should write a book.' So I reread what I had been journaling, and I thought maybe it would help somebody – even if it was just one person, but it's helping many."

In the book, Zu wrote about traumas she faced, along with adversities and challenges – including sexual abuse, heartbreak and betrayal – and how they forced her into survival mode. She wrote about forgiveness, and how she was able to work through her own healing process.

She asked loved ones who knew her situation to read the draft and check for content, tone, etc. One of her friends commented that it was really good, but she joked that after reading it, she was going to have to go to therapy twice a week. Zu's reaction was, "Oh no, I want to share experiences to help, but I don't want to send anyone on a downward spiral! So I created the Survival Guide Workbook as a companion, to have something to support the reader if they are triggered. It gives them some activities to work with that helped me."

In addition to family and friends, Zu asked several area mental health professionals to review the content. "They gave me amazing feedback; I didn't even realize how good it was until the professionals told me. I don't have those type of credentials – just my experience with mental health and trauma – so I wanted to make sure that what I was putting out there was appropriate and effective, and I was not crossing any professional boundaries."

The result will be a series of memoirs and workbooks, including "Survival Season I: Self-Discovery & Forgiveness After Generational Trauma," along with the "Survival Guide: Workbook to Help Navigate Self-Discovery & Healing from Generational Trauma." Season II, which will be the third book, focuses on the details surrounding Zu's physical, mental, emotional and financial wellness.

She commented, "The feedback has been wonderful. I'm literally changing lives just by sharing my experiences, and that's bringing me joy."

For more information or to purchase books, visit sozube.com.