Uffe Westerberg

Frederik's Choices Uffe Westerberg 1. izdevums

A 12-year old boy decides that he will only speak if somebody speak to him. Gradually, he loses the ability to have normal social contacts. As a young man he realizes that his condition may prevent him from achieving his dreams: to have friends, a girlfriend, get his favourite education and a good life. He tries to work his way out of loneliness, social anxiety and depression, but fails. At the age of 22 he takes his own life. Frederik’s critical choices – to remain silent and to commit suicide - are closely linked and his choices forced others – especially his parents – to make choices they never wanted to. From the perspectives of son and father this book tells the story of how bullying and a stressful family life changed a perfectly normal boy into a young man suffering from loneliness, social anxiety and depression. In his own words Frederik describes why he chose as he did. How he fought back against his mental illness, how he struggled to succeed and how he finally lost any hope of a better life. The aftermath is told by his father who describes a family paralyzed by grief and guilt. He asks if it is right to end your own life when you cause enormous pain to others.