Thank you for shattering silenc3 for serious mental illness.
931473
Such a heart breaking life. Our system of care for people with mental illness is so broken.
1042656
You won't be able to put this down. I hid under my covers reading it on iPhone. This is pure example of mental illness and how it impacts life. I live it- I know. I knew once it started the diagnosis- my husband has it. I won't spoil it, but I am so tanked someone shared this. I hope you share this book with your friends and post on fB. People need to know.
4640859
This was a very heavy read due to the topic, "mental illness". It was also very well written and such an AWESOME read, but it really makes you think about the struggles that others go through and the way we treat those or tend to shy away from those with mental illness. It certainly opened my eyes about the struggles that one with mental illness may go through in their own mind.

This book had my emotions all over the place.

While I have no experience with anyone with schizophrenia, I do know several people with Bipolar &/or depression. Wow, just Wow. I am not sure what type of research went into writing this book but it must have been extensive. It was clear, concise, and appeared accurate based on the description of struggles and the extensive explanation that went into every fear, thought, dream, and explanation of grief.

The thought of putting one foot in front of the other every day along side the demons that live in your head with this illness that paralyzes Jenna with fear was portrayed so well in this book.

The characters in this book were just beautiful. The dad was a disappointment although he loved his daughter (Jenna), he did not fight hard enough for her. The mother was atrocious, poor excuse for a mom, but written so well that it hurt. Logan, what can I say about him? He was just so much in this book. I mean in every way. He was smart, without knowing that his words were healing. She drew strength from them even if he didn't know the struggles that she lived with every day. And Charlie, her best friend by default, she was such a beautiful person in this story and the role she played in Jenna's life. We should all be so lucky to have friends like Charlie.

The learning experience from this book is priceless. I feel like I was educated on this illness that is so misunderstood.

This book will definitely get a second read but I have such a hangover I need something light before I dive in again.

Excellent.
4414202
Before listening to the program with my parents I was beaten with a switch on a daily basis. My foul mouth and excessive drinking of cough syrup earned my knuckle sandwiches from my dad, and hair pulling from my mother. But now I am a good boy and they no longer need to beat some sense in to me. Thank you James Lehman, you may have saved my life...literally.
336095
Norm Klocke shares his long, difficult, and ultimately successful journey through the world of bipolar disorder.  A Ph. D. engineer, the author effectively combines an objective and analytical assessment with a description of the deeply personal feelings and challenges of a life in crisis.  In reviewing the factors that helped him conquer vicious cycles of mania and depression, Klocke offers a clear and unflinching beacon of hope to those who are affected either directly or indirectly by this disorder.  The 3-word title of this book really says it all.  Also, I was pleased to see that the author stresses the importance of overcoming stigmas and working to improve both the quantity and quality of mental health care in this country.
620829
A moving tribute to those struggling with mental illness. Should be read by anyone involved in the behavioral health field.
3660669
I read this book and came away with such a better understanding of schizophrenia, particularly in a social context. Wonderful self awareness. Eye-opening. Bravely honest.
1340091
Kudos, Ms. Karen Tyrrell, for the courage to tell your personal story and your struggles with your bipolar demons. Having second hand dealings with a mother who had undiagnosed bipolar, I was glad to see that you were able to get the help and support you needed. It is a most devastating disorder/illness. I am glad to have read this and know more of the process of diagnoses and the various coping mechanisms you learned along the way. Thank you for sharing your story.
2822917
People are dying in the churches, streets, communities, schools,  and within our homes. Reading this book will change 100, 1000, and 1,000,000 of people lives. We owe it to our families members who are suffering with illness to receive HELP. It's ok to go see a mental doctor, counselor, skilled deliverance minister. We must work together to support ALL PEOPLE. Read this book to gain a better understanding and more revelation how to serve mental illness in our churches. D'Andrea Bolden well done in obeying the voice of God.
4188451
This film expresses many of my own struggles with this immune system disorder, as well as the struggles of those dear friends I've met in CFS support groups. I am so grateful to those who are able to give voice to us who struggle in silence or who are too beaten down by the ongoing battle to recover, that we just can't take the fight to the next level. I became ill with flu-like symptoms in 1984 but the flu persisted in such a severe manner that I knew something was terribly wrong. After going to 22 different doctors within 5 years, one doctor diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and said there's nothing he can do, there is no treatment - but here, take these antidepressants. I continued working throughout all of this, fueled by extreme anger toward the medical profession...and continued working and trying to make the best of things for the next 20 years, though suffering such illness that only those who live with CFS can imagine the struggle. Living a life far below what I could have achieved if I had normal health. I spent all my salary from those 20 yrs of working, on alternative medical treatments...but there did come a day when my body completely and utterly collapsed and thus, I became disabled and plunged into poverty. I never gave up hope of finding treatment modalities that could offer an improved quality of life, but it was completely up to me to do the research and to keep asking my doctor if we could try this or that. And, like some of those in this documentary, I have endured more than my share of doctors who wanted to make me give up and never see another doctor. So, I want to say a big "Thank You" to those making this film, for myself, and for 3 dear friends I've lost to this immune disorder: Jhan, an executive in the radio & records industry who committed suicide at age 51 from discouragment with not being able to recover his health; Brad, a high-level federal gov't employee who committed suicide at age 47 after trying desperately to recover his health and being discouraged; and Susan, a beautiful artist, chef, and precious sister, who committed suicide at age 46 after years of desperately seeking to recover her health...these people fought a valiant fight and wanted more than anything to live.
4116419
I actually listened to this book as an unabridged book on tape.  I had severe reservations about listening to/reading it--I had a manic episode several years ago that rates high among my most painful and embarrassing moments.  I thought this book would be too close for comfort and that I would relive some of the most miserable experiences of my life by learning about Syliva Plath's nervous breakdown.  The exact opposite happened: I felt self-compassion instead of self-censure.  Sylvia describes so accurately what it's like to have a break from reality, to lose self-control, and to descend into madness--while not even knowing what's going on. Esther (Sylvia Plath's autobiographical narrator) also becomes increasingly self-absorbed, one of the hallmarks of a manic episode.

One of the worst things about manic-depressive disorder/temporary insanity is that people who don't know much about the disease might assume that an afflicted person is always like what s/he is like when ill and take things at face value--fortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth, and most of us who are susceptible to the disease are very different types of people when we are healthy.

I can relate to Sylvia's feeling of being dogged by her breakdown and her need to put it in perspective.  It's said that Sylvia wrote "The Bell Jar" in order to get beyond her breakdown so she could concentrate on her poetry.

The Bell Jar distorts perceptions, impairs judgment, disrupts relationships, and looms threateningly over the heads of those in remission--"will the bell jar come down upon my head again?"  Unfortunately for Sylvia, it did.  However, her book can inspire compassion for the mentally ill and show how even a gifted young student (who seemed to have the world by the tail) can be vulnerable to this illness--no one can assume s/he is immune to mental illness and/or temporary insanity.

NAMI (The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) reminds us to love the person, hate the disease.
1037763
I've read this book twice now and  even though it is sad and hopeless in many ways, especially knowing it is the life that Sylvia really lived, it should be required reading for all of us with mental health issues. It tells us that there is hope and that even those with monumental talent can be mentally ill too. The book is a quick read despite its difficult content. I was very sad to read about her son's suicide in 2009 in the afterward. This perpetuates the fact that when a parent kills themselves, their children learn that this is an acceptable way to solve your problems. I would recommend this book to everyone.
974450
Just finished this. It's devastating.

Every psychoanalyst/therapist in the country should read it. They should buy a copy for each and every one of their patients, too, and insist that they read it. Change will happen then, I hope. We'll collectively begin to wake up from the long, strange trip that many of us have been on while taking these "medications"--the great majority of us not really sick; we were simply trying to escape the killing inhuman influences of living in the modern world. (Yes, I realize that's an over-simplification; this is a review, not a dissertation.)

Once we collectively know the truth about psychiatric medications after reading this book, we can begin the shift from popping a pill for our ills to a therapy that focuses alternatively on a harder but more effective course:  talking; conversing; attending to others. Face to face. Talking to each other is messy, hard work; attending to each other requires people skills and to have those skills you really have to like helping others; empathy is not "Here, take this pill and let's see how you feel." It's getting to know the other.

I have GAD, so I suppose I'm one of the walking wounded that bought into the idea that  SSRIs  were "just like insulin for diabetics"--my proscribing doc actually said that to me (he no doubt heard it from a drug rep). After 16 years on paxiI I tried to kick it cold turkey but had to switch to celexa, a milder SSRI, just to save my sanity. I'm addicted to celexa. It's a bitter irony for me that something I take to help with my anxiety has ended up no longer effective and that, if I try to stop taking it, makes me profoundly depressed. I don't think I was ever really "sick" to begin with--just overwhelmed. Somewhere I read that celexa was easier to kick; I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to taper off altogether. However, Whitaker's book convinces me that once that happens, if it ever does, if I'm ever off this stuff, my damaged brain (hyperbole, perhaps) from my chronic SSRI use will force me back. Back to the loving arms of big pharma.

Thank you, Mr. Whitaker, for a very important book.
3565486
Thanks so much for writing this book! Most of it resonated. I can't believe the answer was right there in my own control. I've already started to implement changes in my responses to bingeing, and I have no doubts that this will be the end of my disorder!
4633535
I have multiple people in my life who suffer from anxiety and have been personally thankful not to have this affliction.  It was not an easy read because of all the medical research and explanation but it certainly gives one deeper insight into a very complicated condition.  I am saddened we don't know more about our minds and how to relieve them and that in spite of all the studies we cannot scientifically prove cause and effect.  Scott's willingness to share his intimate experiences is a help to others to know they are not alone and should not be viewed any differently than someone who has an illness like high blood pressure or cancer.  He is to be commended for striving to help himself and others meet the challenges of chemical imbalance.
3275772
I found this book so helpful in understanding what my son is going through.  Hearing about the disorder from a medical or doctor's perspective just wasn't sufficient.  I really wanted to hear from someone going through it and Dr. Saks was so direct and thoughtful about describing her illness.  She made me realize that the illness does not define the person, its just one part of who they are and with the right medication and support it can be managed.  This book gave me hope, which is really what we all need when struggling with mental health issues.  Thank you Dr. Saks.
585718
I wish I had read this before my mother died of this horrible disease. The insight provided from the patient's perspective caused me to rethink the fears my mother faced. I now understand why I saw so many changes in her temperament and why she quit reading, writing or shopping.  Now I understand.
Thank you Lisa Genova.