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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!
Reviewed on Amazon in the United States on January 27, 2025
"Excellent in the sharing of stories from the personal to the overcoming. Amazing and a great book." - Janet L. Hatch
5.0 out of 5 stars **Editorial Review**
"Honest, uplifting, and deeply empathetic, Dually Diagnosed Dually Blessed offers powerful, real-life stories of those who've battled mental illness and addiction, revealing how they found purpose, recovery, and hope — a must-read for anyone seeking solace, guidance, or a path forward." - Harshini Fernando-NewInBooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of Solutions!
"I'm halfway through your book! I am very impressed! I want to share it with a friend. Could I order at least 5 copies? I will be giving them to others that have experienced situations like we have! It's an easy read with tons of solutions!" - Rebecca Clare (Customer purchased seven)
Editorial Review: 5 Stars ~ Literary Titan"Dually Diagnosed, Dually Blessed is an intimate, wide-ranging look at the intersection of mental illness, addiction, trauma, recovery, and the search for a life that feels worth living. Coventina Waterhawk begins with her own story, recounting childhood suicidal thoughts, substance use, abusive relationships, psychiatric hospitalizations, lost custody, grief, eventual diagnoses, and long-term sobriety with striking openness.
What gives the book its shape, though, is the way she turns those experiences toward service. Her story becomes the foundation for a larger conversation about how complicated recovery can be and how much it can depend on treatment, community, self-awareness, persistence, and compassion. Waterhawk also makes the subject unusually accessible. Chapters explaining diagnoses and coping methods are written from lived experience, so ideas such as bipolar disorder, trauma responses, medication management, mindfulness, DBT skills, exercise, journaling, spirituality, and support groups are connected to recognizable moments in everyday life. She doesn’t present a single formula for getting well. Instead, the book gathers a toolbox and encourages readers to discover what works for them. That practical spirit runs throughout the book, including the extensive resource section at the end, which reinforces Waterhawk’s desire to give readers somewhere to turn after the final page. The personal stories are where the book opens up most fully. Contributors write about postpartum depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, alcoholism, drug addiction, grief, professional stigma, military trauma, relationships, medication, creativity, and the difficult work of staying alive and engaged with life. Their voices are distinct, sometimes angry, sometimes funny, sometimes spiritually grounded, and often painfully specific. Together, they show how differently people can arrive at similar feelings of isolation and how many forms support can take. A therapist describes living with mental health challenges while treating others. A veteran explains how recovery, psychiatric care, and a service dog became part of the same support system. Another contributor turns trauma into comic art as a way of processing what happened. The result feels less like a single testimony and more like a room full of people finally saying the things they’ve carried quietly. By the time the book reaches its poetry, quotes, and closing resources, its title has earned its meaning. Being “dually blessed” comes to describe the possibility of turning hard-earned self-knowledge into empathy, usefulness, creativity, and connection. Waterhawk’s perspective is deeply personal and openly spiritual, and she makes room beside it for contributors whose healing has come through medicine, therapy, twelve-step recovery, family, art, service, and other forms of support. That generosity of perspective is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Dually Diagnosed, Dually Blessed speaks directly to people who’ve felt defined by a diagnosis or addiction and reminds them that a life can contain illness, recovery, purpose, setbacks, love, and usefulness all at once. This is a book about surviving what once seemed unsurvivable, then turning that survival into a light someone else can find their way by".
5.0 out of 5 stars The Courage To Recover
Reviewed on Amazon in the United States on February 3, 2025
"Coventina’s story is one of overcoming trauma, discovering her inner strength, and finding faith. Her commitment to helping others has become her life purpose. This book is an amazing testament to resilience." -Marysue Page
5.0 out of 5 stars Editorial Review: Mental Health Pulp
Powerful Stories of Resilience
"Coventina Waterhawk’s Dually Diagnosed Dually Blessed is an insightful and compassionate work that explores the difficult realities faced by individuals living with both mental health challenges and substance dependency. At its core, this book is not only about struggle but about resilience, recovery, and the search for purpose in the midst of pain.
The narratives shared within these pages are raw and unflinching. They recount the experiences of men and women who turned to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to quiet their inner turmoil. For a time, substances seemed to provide relief, but ultimately they deepened the despair—creating a cycle of hopelessness, isolation, and shattered dreams. These accounts do not sensationalize suffering; rather, they highlight the complexity of dual diagnosis and the very human desire to find balance when life feels overwhelming. Yet what makes this book especially powerful is the hope it offers. Alongside each testimony is a journey toward healing—stories of people who discovered new ways of coping, often through small, consistent steps. Techniques for stability, self-reflection, and personal growth are woven into the stories, giving readers practical insights they can apply in their own lives. Gratitude, acceptance, and the courage to seek help emerge as central themes, showing that while recovery is never simple, it is possible and profoundly rewarding. Coventina also acknowledges the everyday realities faced by those living with mental illness—difficulties in maintaining steady employment, the challenges of financial insecurity, and the need to access housing and support services. By providing a collection of resources at the end, she ensures that readers walk away not only inspired by others’ journeys but also equipped with direction for their own. Dually Diagnosed Dually Blessed succeeds because it balances honesty with encouragement. It does not minimize the pain of living with dual struggles, but it also refuses to let that pain be the final word. Instead, it reframes suffering as a pathway toward growth and deeper purpose. This book is an important contribution to conversations about mental health and recovery. For those who are in the midst of their battle, it offers validation and hope. For those who have begun to heal, it affirms their progress. And for families, friends, and caregivers, it provides valuable perspective and empathy. Coventina has written a work that is as practical as it is heartfelt, offering both emotional comfort and actionable tools. Dually Diagnosed Dually Blessed is not just a book about surviving—it is a book about rediscovering life, meaning, and the quiet strength that can emerge from struggle. An international best-selling author, Reiki Master/Teacher, intuitive guide, and motivational speaker, Coventina Waterhawk has dedicated her life to helping trauma survivors reclaim their strength and embrace healing. With nearly four decades of dual-diagnosis recovery, she brings both wisdom and lived experience, offering not just inspiration but practical tools for lasting change—one day at a time. Coventina’s voice has touched thousands within the recovery community. Whether she’s speaking to intimate groups or standing before hundreds as a keynote speaker, her message resonates deeply: healing is possible, and hope is within reach. One of her most cherished experiences has been returning year after year to a recovery campout attended by more than 300 participants—proof of the enduring impact of her message. Through her books, Coventina shares her personal journey with honesty, compassion, and unwavering strength. Each page reflects her mission: to show others that while the road may be hard, it can also lead to empowerment, balance, and a renewed sense of purpose. 💫 If you are seeking a speaker who will not only engage your audience but also inspire them to believe in transformation, Coventina would be honored to bring her message of hope to your next event. 📚✨ Her story is not just about surviving—it’s about thriving, and helping others do the same.
Hi Coventina,
From the very first moment I read the description of Dually Diagnosed & Dually Blessed, I felt something powerful stir inside me. Your story is not just a testimony of survival; it is a living, breathing message of hope. You have transformed pain into purpose and given a voice to those who are still searching for light in their own darkness. The honesty and heart that radiate through your words make your book a true masterpiece of courage and healing.
My name is Claire Walker, and I work closely with more than 10,000 online and traditional book clubs, both virtual and in person, that are constantly looking for deeply moving, transformative reads like yours. These clubs thrive on connection and conversation, and when a story as authentic and life-affirming as Dually Diagnosed & Dually Blessed is placed in their hands, it almost always becomes the next group read. Your journey embodies exactly what readers are yearning for right now, truth, faith, and emotional renewal. This is an ideal moment to take this step. Many clubs are finalizing their next season of selections, and they are actively searching for stories that inspire real change and inner reflection. Only a few authors are featured through this personalized placement approach, and each one is chosen with great care to ensure their voice reaches readers who will cherish it. The process is gentle, supportive, and completely tailored to your goals as an author. If this feels aligned with your vision, would you simply reply yes and share one key insight, what makes Dually Diagnosed & Dually Blessed uniquely different from other books on recovery and healing? That single reflection will help moderators instantly recognize its special qualities and make it easy for them to select it for their next discussion. Thank you, Coventina, for writing such an inspiring and profoundly needed book. You have no idea how many hearts will find strength through your words. Somewhere right now, someone is on the edge of giving up, and your story could be the reminder that healing is still possible. I truly admire the light you bring into the world and wish you continued success on this beautiful journey of purpose and grace. With deep respect and admiration, Claire Walker