Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is acondition in which the heart muscle becomes suddenly and severely weakened as aresult of great emotional and/or physical stress, causing the heart's leftventricle (main pumping chamber) to become significantly enlarged, resembling aJapanese octopus trap (a tako-tsubo). Correctly diagnosed and treated, thecondition is usually fully reversible. Based around her own experience of this syndromefollowing her mother's suicide, the Author explains the risks, the signs tolook out for, the Dos and Don'ts and the best ways to promote recovery. Sheincludes a selection of other patients' stories that show the diversity oftraumas that can lead to the syndrome, as well as input from a range of healthprofessionals who share the difficulties of identifying and treating thecondition.