MARIONETTE

Marionette is the fictional biography of Elise McDuffy, a young woman with an intensely strained mother-daughter relationship. Through Elise McDuffy, author Joseph Wheeler has written a profoundly powerful debut novel about perennial trauma and grief. Marionette is an emotional and heartbreaking story with moments of humor and levity.Elise McDuffy had become the invisible daughter, blindsided by persistent stressors, struggling to stay above the undertow of trauma inflicted by her narcissistic Mother and new stepfather. Her life resembled a marionette puppet, unable to escape the world of her manipulator, frozen and incapable of resolving her suffering and loss. The story of Marionette occupies an emotive space in-between Yin and Yang.If you have a difficult relationship with your mother, are a child of divorce, or the child of parents that should have divorced, Marionette is for you. If you have felt alone, unheard, invisible, and manipulated, Marionette is for you.Marionette is the first novel written by author Joseph Wheeler after his sensational debut book Pixote."From my journals of life, joy, and pain, I present the most impactful moments in between Yin and Yang that shaped me and all of my fabulous light" - Elise McDuffy

The marionette only moves when the manipulator chooses to move it, speaks when the manipulator allows it to speak, or rests when the manipulator decides it is time to rest. The marionette silently suffers, day after day, year after year, never able to gain control of one string, one movement, one moment of freedom. We are all marionettes, in some form. The strings of a marionette could be genetic, social, economic, environmental, behavioral, political, or historical.How does a marionette break free?

Our mental health is comprised of our social, physiological, and emotional well being. It is how we think, act, interact with others, and most importantly, how we handle stress and stressors in life. The word mental does not indicate an illness. Mental in the broad definition refers to our brain and behavior.As we progress to a more digital world, being human takes practice, conscious practice. Society and technology have desensitized us. Every human needs to practice positive mental health habits. This simply starts with being and acting more human, as we did before the devices and distractions. Developing stronger analog interactions and becoming more mindful of others is a positive step towards building stable relationships. A healthy diet, sleep cycle, and body along with memory investing based events can strengthen resilience and our identities though human connection.Our mental health can severely impact our physical health and is a crucial part of our overall health and a future focused life. Common behavioral health struggles include changes in eating or sleep patterns, withdrawal from social situations, negative changes in mood, and thoughts or actions of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.Our mental health can be affected by numerous factors including our genetics, brain chemistry, peer influences, family experiences, relationships, economic inequalities, discrimination, media and technology, academic pressure, and environmental factors.Behavioral health issues are normal and common amongst humans of all ages. It is vital to identify the signs of adverse mental health issues and seek help early on so the internal pain does not become an external action.There are many support services available if you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, frozen, depressed, lonely, or just lost. Make a difference in your life of someone you love by reaching out for support and starting a conversation.That initial conversation could save a life.

Crisis lines are staffed by experienced individuals that can address a wide variety of crisis’. Live trained counselors can respond to you for free and confidentially.