Memoir Chronicles a Family’s Mental Health Journey
It’s not every day someone publishes a book—but for Liz Sjaastad, that day is coming soon. Her memoir, You’re Too Young to Understand, will be released on May 6. After nearly a decade of writing, refining, and working tirelessly to get her story onto shelves, Liz is finally seeing her hard work come to fruition.
This isn’t a traditional feel-good story. Instead, Liz bravely explores her family’s complex history and relationships, offering a deeply personal and, at times, painful account of what it means to grow up with a parent living with severe and late-diagnosed mental illness.
Liz’s mother was diagnosed as an adult with schizoaffective disorder and depression—a turning point that helped Liz and her sister begin to make sense of their childhood and the challenges they faced. It was a diagnosis that brought both clarity and more questions, especially around the emotional and ethical difficulties of getting their mother help without her initial consent.
Her parents’ love story began in high school and seemed idyllic at first. But over time, both faced serious struggles that left a lasting impact on their family. Her father, a professor, battled alcoholism. While he excelled professionally, Liz says he “failed on the home front.” Meanwhile, her mother’s increasing delusions and paranoia created a home life marked by confusion and fear. Ultimately, Liz and her sister had to take matters into their own hands—convincing their mother to see a doctor so they could get a proper diagnosis.
“It brought up a lot of questions about what is right and what is moral, especially when the laws were working against us,” she says.
After her father passed away, Liz began writing as a way to process her grief and years of family trauma. What started as a personal outlet grew into something much larger. As she explored her past, she realized she wasn’t just writing for herself—she was writing for others who might be living through similar experiences.
Liz has chosen to use her story not only to connect with readers but also to advocate for those affected by mental illness. A dedicated community leader, she joined Touchstone Mental Health’s Board of Directors in 2003 and served for seven years. She currently serves on the NAMI Ramsey County Board of Directors and continues to use her platform to bring greater understanding to mental health challenges.
“There are so many families dealing with mental illness without the support they need, simply because they’re not considered ‘in crisis’—it’s just part of their everyday lives,” she says. “I want people to walk away with a deeper appreciation for what that experience is like, and a clearer view of the societal challenges in getting help. But I also want them to know: you can still lead a beautiful life. There is more out there if you can find your own path.”