Product Description

This book is my honest attempt at confession-a huge confession, requiring everything that had been lodged in the chambers of my soul to aid in expression. Drawing them out, I have broken the locks that kept my deepest thoughts stored away. This book means so much to me, but I know my stories. I feel them, just as you must living with yours. Yet this is just as much for you as it is for me. I typed this entire book with my left hand, solely the first finger of my left hand; it was for you. The Emotional Struggle has been a dream of mine, and it has been nearly three years in the making. It started with a year of writing everyday trying to perfect what was going to be a chance to inspire people; to understand that no matter how bad life can be at times, there is always a way out. And life can get better. But in order to get better, in order to leave the past behind, you have to fight. You have to hold your head high and know that there is a purpose for breathing at this very moment. There is always an open invitation of grace waiting for you in the pierced hands of a man who gave himself up for all humanity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #769922 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

About the Author
My name is Brandon Ryan, I am 23 years of age. I was born with Cerebral Palsy. Let me tell you right up front, I have been through Hell and back. I have scars all over my body, scars that tell a story of pain, grief, and imperfection. I have struggled through out my life, and I have searched for the deepest desires of my heart. To be loved, to have a sense of self worth, to be accepted and wake up every morning with a hope that never, never dies. I have questioned my existence and why it is that I am given breath every single second I am alive. And the only answer I can give you that makes any sense at all, is love. A man gave his life, for me, because he first loved me. Even when I hated myself. He has gave me a new life, a life that is full of purpose, awe and wonder. To have this love means everything to me, but it started with a choice. One choice, to hand over all the pain, the depression, the thoughts of suicide, the envy and all things that we humans deal with, to have a life full of grace and a life that will not only get better now, but for all eternity. I am on a journey, and I hope you will choose to walk along side me.

Customer Reviews

The Emotional Struggle: A masterful, heart warming book
Updated 11/6/08

The Emotional Struggle is a book that has touched my heart. The Author, Brandon Ryan, has taught me so much, but what's more is that he has given me hope.

The Emotional Struggle is basically about the struggles that Brandon faced his whole life and how he has coped with them.

It's also about how he tries to be a good person, even when he's in pain and how he has struggled with depression. He has often told me that during winter, his muscles get so stiff that it's hard for him to even get out of bed without being in pain. However, through it all he still wants to do something good for the world.

He wants to be a hope for people who struggle with depression and suicide and he wants to fight for the hopeless. There's millions of people that are hurting and Brandon wants to let them know that they're not alone. I don't know if he knows this, but he really is a hope for people.

Brandon is 24 years old and "The Emotional Struggle" is his first book. I know he's going to leave his prints on someone's heart as he has with mine.

Just by reading his book I noticed that he has more compassion than I've ever seen in anyone. His book proves true to the statement "You can't really know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes." I know that I can't even Imagine what it's like to have Cerebral Palsy, but that book was so easy to understand that it was almost as if I was in his place.

There's no doubt in my mind that he will accomplish everything that he wants to accomplish. He really encourages me every day. He's one of the most honest-hearted individuals I know. He has feelings like everyone else and he deserves to be treated as respectfully as you would treat a person who doesn't have cerebral palsy, or any other disability.

There are a lot of lessons that people need to learn as they grow. I know Brandon isn't perfect by any means, but I think that just by writing that book, he taught so many lessons for each individual that reads it. I also know that every person is different, no two people are exactly alike, so each lesson learned will be different for each person.

Everything he writes is pure poetry to me. We need more people like him in this world who take the time to give of themselves freely, not just because they get paid to do it or because they want to impress someone.

If you just help someone because you want to impress someone else, then your motives aren't real and pure and right. You have to be moved and motivated to help people.

I wish I could write with as much passion and feeling as he does. it's hard to write like that, I know because I've tried. In any case, Brandon is one of the best authors I know. He's also my favorite. If you read his book, I hope it will help you to realize your sense of self-worth, your true potential and your true calling.

Wow!
Have you ever become friends with someone online, that you've never met before? I'm sure you have, at one point or another, since our world is so... technological, these days. I mean, our entire lives are displayed on the internet. I've come to accept this. That's a big step for me!

I've been both painfully shy and shamelessly outgoing, and social networking sites have always been a confusing thing for me. I can't really say why, I guess it was due to a fear of rejection I had for a long, long time.
"Of course I'll only talk to people I know in person."
"What if people add me and just spy on me?"

etc. etc..... These are old thoughts. I've come to the point where I really don't care anymore, people can say I'm this and that.... but I don't have to listen.

A while back I found this book on Amazon.com called "The Emotional Struggle" and I read the description. I decided right then that I really wanted to save my money to buy that book. I didn't take note of the author, and a couple weeks later, I got a friend request (on myspace) from someone named "Brandon Ryan".

For days I couldn't quite figure out who this character was. I remember this amazing quote on his page about writing "day by day, despite fear of ridicule".
"Wow! Someone else understands!" I thought.
There was a quote about how God is close to the broken hearted. That really struck a chord too. After a couple days of pondering who in the world this is, I left a comment, bluntly asking, "Hey! Where did you find me?"

He found my myspace through another group's myspace that offers free online counseling. I completely forgot that I had that group on my friends list. What a fluke!

As time went on we talked online and I felt more and more comfortable talking to him. I felt like he understood a lot of what I was feeling. It's very very rare for me to feel that way about someone these days, especially a guy.

Weeks later I found out HE was the author of the book "The Emotional Struggle" I had checked out on amazon. At this point I knew I had to buy the book and read it, and I was not disappointed. I feel like it's a simple book that goes right to the heart of things, which is exactly what I needed. It's a personal story, but you can tell it was written by a real person with a real life. There's no sugarcoating or extensive editing, adding in things that sound "pretty" and taking things out that sound "ugly". Life can be ugly. And through what I would say was THE ugliest time of my life, Brandon Ryan helped me out.

I don't want to give too much away, but I would recommend this book to anyone.
And if you were supposed to read it, you'll know it.

The Emotional Struggle
I read this book and I felt like he was looking right into my soul. Very intense and very honest.
You could tell from the book how far he had to go to overcome alot of things in his life. It honestly helped me tremendously.
1f I could have only read one book in my life it would have to be this one! It will change the way you think.
Brandon is a Christian but a cool Christian.
His life and his book are amazing.
I can't wait for the next one!