Girl in Need of a Tourniquet - by Merri Lisa Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

An honest and compelling memoir, "Girl in Need of a Tourniquet" is Merri Lisa Johnson's account of her borderline personality disorder and how it has affected her life and relationships. Johnson describes the feeling of "bleeding out" -- unable to tell where she stopped and where her partner began. A self-confessed "psycho girlfriend," she was influenced by many emotional factors from her past. She recalls her path through a dysfunctional, destructive relationship, while recounting the experiences that brought her to her breaking point. In recognizing her struggle with borderline personality disorder, Johnson is ultimately able to seek help, embarking on a soul-searching healing process. It's a path that is painful, difficult, and at times heart-wrenching, but ultimately makes her more able to love and coexist in healthy relationships.

Book Synopsis

An honest and compelling memoir, Girl in Need of a Tourniquet is Merri Lisa Johnson's account of her borderline personality disorder and how it has affected her life and relationships. Johnson describes the feeling of "bleeding out", unable to tell where she stopped and where her partner began. A self-confessed "psycho girlfriend," she was influenced by many emotional factors from her past. She recalls her path through a dysfunctional, destructive relationship, while recounting the experiences that brought her to her breaking point. In recognizing her struggle with borderline personality disorder, Johnson is ultimately able to seek help, embarking on a soul-searching healing process. It's a path that is painful, difficult, and at times heart-wrenching, but ultimately makes her more able to love and coexist in healthy relationships.

About the Author

Merri Lisa Johnson is the editor of Jane Sexes It Up and other collections in feminist cultural studies, and has published personal essays in various anthologies. An assistant professor of English and women's studies, Johnson teaches a course on creative nonfiction with a focus on writing about relationships. She serves as Director of the Center for Women's and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina Upstate, and is the former director of a literary series at Coastal Carolina University.