"Depression, that's one thing- lot of people have depression, and they're not crazy. Bipolar, schizophrenia- that's crazy. That's mental illness- the psychos, the nut cases, the incurably insane, the muttering bag ladies and bums, the freaks. So I take my meds, and don't accept the name for what I have." -"Madness: [...]
I'm halfway through "Madness" & I love it. This memoir captures the complexity of mental illness by looking at the comorbidity with eating disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, and alcoholism (self-medicating). The disorders feed off of each other, making treatment even more tricky. It shows how complicated treatment can be, even when you are [...]
"Hypomania has many faces. Most of the words below came from patients who experienced it. Thoughts move like a ping-pong ball Cleaning the house all night Strong desire to reconnect with old friends or lovers Interest shifts from one thing to another, can't finish anything More puns [...]
Antidepressants are not for everyone. In fact, select individuals can get WORSE while on antidepressants. Factors that predict a bad response include: Lack of a mood stabilizer (dangerous for bipolar patients) Bipolar I vs. II- the further you are toward the manic side of the spectrum, the worse the reactions tend [...]
Take a very hot or very cold shower Squeeze an ice cube until it hurts Go for a vigorous run or swim Lift weights Go outside and pull weeds Tense your muscles for 3 seconds, then release (one muscle at [...]
"Bipolar, Not So Much" is a book which features a self-test for mixed states (mixture of depressive and manic symptoms). The 12 symptoms listed arise from an overlap of mania and depression. Aiken Mixity Scale: Over the last week, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems? [...]
It's quite simple. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I read it in one night. The book provides insight into the struggle of finding the right medications for bipolar disorder through the creative usage of images and text. It took her FOUR YEARS to find the right meds. FOUR. YEARS. The author [...]
"This Fragile Life" is the story of a bipolar son, through the lens of the mother. The son, Mark, not only battles manic-depressive illness but also his drug and alcohol addiction. During his manic phases, he becomes extremely paranoid and aggressive. He is convinced that people, even ones dear to him, are out to [...]
In the library, I recently came upon a graphic memoir on schizophrenia. The book is written and illustrated by two brothers impacted by the condition. The story begins when one brother starts exhibiting symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations. They struggle to hospitalize him and get him to treatment. He is diagnosed [...]
I am halfway through "Boy Alone" by Karl Taro Greenfeld. This is a fascinating memoir of a boy growing up with an autistic brother. The book provides much insight into the daily struggles that a family with an autistic child must face. Not too long ago, in the sixties and seventies, not much [...]
The Calculating Mind 