Rating: Summary: a kinda funny read Review: While recovering from a recent manic episode, I picked up this book and just started reading some of the little anecdotes. I found them rather humorous, especially the parts about taking your lithium or not. Or the part where she says you should just laugh at your friends who say that they should be on lithium. While I completely disagree with her that I'd choose this illness if I had the opportunity to choose (I guess that's supposed to be called denial), I can say that it certainly makes life more than interesting (in a sardonic voice).
Rating: Summary: Wonderful! Review: Heartfelt. Informative. Frighteningly honest. Endearing. A wonderful book to love, love, love...a lesson in understanding...
Rating: Summary: A Step Forward for Bipolar Disorder Review: I am the webowner of Bipolar Disorder Sanctuary ... and also of the Borderline Personality Disorder Sanctuary. I also suffer from both disorders. I just finished reading Jamison's very moving autobiography about living with bipolar disorder. I could not only relate to much of it; but it provided much comfort to me reading about someone who has endured the "depths of hell" as I have. I believe her book is a huge step forward for this painful and deadly disorder. The more people that come forward about their illnesses, the more society will stop stigmatizing people and understand the illness for what it is - a medical, genetic disorder. We didn't ask for it. We don't deserve it. Kay discusses the risk she took in making her disorder public as this is still a pioneering time in public opinion and understanding about mental illness. I admire her for coming forward and I feel that this book will help many people. It is always a relief realizing that I am not alone with my own mental illnesses. I really don't think anyone could possibly understand just what it feels like to have this disorder, except another person with the same disorder. We are all different, yet we are the same. I recommend this book not only to bipolars, but to families, clinicians and anyone who is curious about the BP. Also, I would feel much more comfortable being seen by a psychiatrist who has the BP than one that doesn't, wouldn't you? Excellent book. Good job Kay.
Rating: Summary: Invaluable Review: Scouring the bookshelves for something, anything regarding the topic of bipolar illness, I came across Dr. Jamison's brilliant memoir. I had recently been diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar and was unsure of how that would effect my life. I had always been moody and eccentric, how would I learn to live without those highs? How would I get used to losing the endless nights of various projects and explorations. Everything is brighter when you're manic and everything is more enjoyable. Surely I could endure the depressions just to experience the highs. However, when I read Dr. Jamison's book I saw myself reflected in the pages. Things escalate when you're bipolar, and much of the time you have no idea what you are doing or how you appear to others. Dr. Jamison describes the mania with precision. Her words are chilling to the reader who knows exactly what a manic episode is like. She is also very firm in her standing on treatment for bipolars. She advocates a combined approach of psychotherapy and medication. Her arguments are solid and helpful for the family and friends of a person living with bipolar. The novel is well written, informative, and enjoyable. I am filled with awe for Dr. Jamison because she has done so much for those of us living with bipolar disorder. She has inspired me personally because she is such a brilliant woman. This memoir belongs on everyone's shelf who is interested or involved in bipolar disorder.
Rating: Summary: A worthwhile read Review: In a nutshell the book *is* an autobiography of a manic-depressive who is simultaneously a scientist deeply involved in the study of the subject. What with the explicit subtitle of "memoir," one wonders how some of the other reviewers could possible be surprised at finding, god forbid, an autobiography which, oddly enough, encapsulates the more significant events of someone's life.()There are several passages going into considerable perceptual detail on the internal workings of the mind as well as "external" cognition, as much as the illness permits memory of what happened. Beyond that, I suspect that readers' needs for more details of depression and mania may reflect a curious desire to plumb, perhaps even persist in the states they themselves have experienced. To which I have to ask: if you've been there, do you need further explanation from Jamison to come to the realization that millions of others have that same experiential bond with you? From time to time Jamison does dispense other, more scientific nuggets, i.e., correlations with suicide, gender, whatever. This is why I found this book to be a good complement to Francis Mark Mondimore's _Bipolar Disorder_, which provides a wonderful, clear, more or less objective treatment of the workings of the disease in their full ramifications (correlations, etc.) and puts Jamison's personal experience into perspective (Mondimore even quotes Jamison a couple of times). (Interestingly, both argue in favor of ECT - electroconvulsive therapy for some cases. Conceding that it's a lot more humane than it used to be, and may be the only solution for severe depressives and others, I still find even the experts admit that a) they don't know how the therapy works exactly, and b) that memory loss is inevitable with it, which raises grave doubts as to the question , "at what cost the therapy"... But I digress. :-) Admittedly, as someone with a close relative having a second BP/MD crash, my own motivation to read these books was highly intermittent, a function of the pain going on with my relative and the lives being irrevocably harmed around them. Hence, it's hard to focus on these books when you don't want to fixate on the illness more than its intrusion already forces you to. Still, Jamison is a fast, usually eloquent read (although the hyperbole may tax some of your patience, as it did mine on occasion). The one major beef that I and another friend have with the book is a presentation that reflects the nature of the illness itself. Although Jamison goes out of her way to point out how deadly the disease can be, and how crucial the medicine is (and how hard it is even for a scientist in the field to recognize she has to take it!), the last few sections are a nostalgic elegy looking back almost in support of hypomania, perhaps even mania itself, despite the pain involved. To me, this is but a short step to feed the profound need of BP/MD sufferers for a justification to cling to hypomania, and in this case, is offered by an expert in the subject. For that reason, I find the ending of the book disturbing, almost asking to release the reins that some have fought so long to control. Not that the previous euphoric episodes should be denied as a part of oneself, but that the slide over the edge is an easy one, and therefore such nostalgia is highly dangerous for those who want to be told ("validated," in today's pop psychology) that it's OK, without at least a repetition of the warning that plumbing those "limitless corners" carries tremendous risk. Other than that, Jamison's story is a testament to grit and survival, and a welcome rejoinder to the sheer insensitivity of even some mental health professionals who ought to know better.
Rating: Summary: moods and mania Review: this book was very imformitive, but it tends to drag on about the same thing to ofter. and it can get quite confusing jusmping back and forward all the time. apart from that i think that Kay was a very brave woman and this book changed my perspective on the illness.
Rating: Summary: The manic depressed Review: i thought this book was a great insight on how a manics mindworks. what critics have to remember is that this is only about oneperson, and it doesnt even come close to telling people this is what your supposed to feel. Kay was a brave woman and suffered a great deal. not to take it. the book tends to drag on a fair bit and tends to talk reaptedly about certain things, but the information in the book was amazing, and really helped you understand more clearly on what she ws thinkning.
Rating: Summary: Bi-Polar and learning to live with it. Review: 1996, I was told I suffered with Bi-polar disorder, and had no idea what that meant. I soon found out! After searching for good treatment and decent doctors,I found a wonderful Psychiatrist and a Psycologist who together helped me to realize my future with this disease. With the help of medication, I gained the strength to pick up this book, which was highly recommended to me by my Psychiatrist, I began to read. At first I was terrified at what I read about. This poor woman was suffering so badly, and I knew that was not me. I later found out I had more in common with her than I thought! After reading the book I longed to meet with her and talk to her about our shared pain! I have yet to meet Kay, but I know in my heart she knows how I feel and how I live my days. Most importantly, I know I am not alone in this! Thank you Kay Jamison! You are my hero!
Rating: Summary: A realistic look into Manic Depression Review: This book gives wonderful insight into the world of manic depression. Brutally honest and sincere it is loaded with heartfelt emotion and takes you along on her struggling journey. I recommend this to anyone who suffers or knows of someone who suffers from it. Informative, but not clinical, it is a great introduction into an illness that effects so many people.
Rating: Summary: No More "Fear of the Fear of Flying" Review: I had my first and only manic episode at the age of forty-four, four years ago. In order to be diagnosed a manic-depressive (also know as "bi polar"), you have to have also an expisode of the opposite disorder. In my case, a brief period of depression preceeded the mania. When I went manic, I was fortunate to have a loving husband-- who was quite sensitive to my regular weird nature as opposed to this strange "NEW" me-- realize something was very wrong and cart me off to the doctor immediately. My judgement was way too poor to know this. In fact, I thought my HUSBAND was "nuts"! If you are a family member of a manic-depressive, please understand that they are not capable of behaving normally when they are having an episode. I didn't have to stay away from home too long because he caught me in a very early stage. I was lucky. This illness can devastate people's lives. Some of us must face it and fight it on a daily basis. When I got out of the psychiatric hospital and initally met the "psychopharmarcologial"* shrink who is my doctor now, he said to me at my first visit: "I would like you to read AN UNQUIET MIND, by Kay Jamison. She is a research scientist who is also a manic-depressive." So I did. And, do you know what? It helped me to feel comforted. I no longer felt alone. I no longer felt quite so nervous about "trusting my brain", which had never let me down before. I don't feel as guilty for the foolish things I did while manic, nor I do feel as embarrassed. The shame can be haunting for some people. This book helps dispell that. Dr. Jamison is very honest about all the foolish and self destructive things she did. Because I read this book, I understand that I have a neurobiological disorder that up until recently was very poorly understood. Because of reading this book, I realize that it takes stalwart dedication and, in my case, a love of my family to maintain myself on the road to good health. Otherwise, sure, I would be tempted to "fly" again, just as Kay Jamison did. Her honesty about the damage she did to herself and to her relationships, and her willingness to be open about the seductive nature of this disease has helped me remain on the path to good health. Read this book and dispell some of your confusion about this not so uncommon, not all that glamorous disorder. And then go hug your family, or your s.o.-- or yourself. Hang tough and don't be afraid. Best wishes, Jean * this kind of shrink specializes in using drugs to treat certain disorders. very good type of psychiatrist to use if you are manic/depressive.
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