Brilliant Madness : Living with Manic Depressive Illness

Rating:
Summary: Changed my Life
Review: I have known there was something wrong with me since I was about 16. For years I thought I had low blood sugar which could account for mood swings. After dealing with a moderate to severe drinking problem, my mood swings persisted. By reading this and Patty Duke's first book, Call Me Anna, I was able to self diagnose myself as manic depressive. After four years of using lithium and an antidepressant, my life is 180 degrees different. I no longer have to try to control my feelings 24 hours a day. And, of course, it just wasn't possible to control them with manic depression. It's a tough disease to cope with when the people who have it are frequently highly intelligent and creative. Such people should be able to control their emotions, shouldn't they? Thank you Patty Duke!

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful to others with the illness.
Review: I have manic depressive illness. When I was told that this was what was wrong with me I felt very alone, as if I was the only one on the planet who was going through this. I had so many questions, but I didn't know where to begin asking. This book not only answered all my questions, but it was so reassuring to read of the struggles this obviously intelligent (and sane!) woman had gone through. Alternating Anna's story with chapters of a more medical nature made it all that much more real. This was not a theoretical book, but a story of the very real struggles this illness brings into your life. I recommend it to anyone who has this illness themselves, or has a friend or family member with it.

Rating:
Summary: Takes you inside the subject matter.
Review: I live with A Brilliant Madness and its not all that's its cut out to be in the tittle. But then it has been asset in all my endeavors. These two ladies have brought us the life and the science of this human condition of which the suffers are ravaged by their own intellects. But yet today having a mental illness carries with it a sub illness to so many physical illnesses i.e. its ok to abandon someone with a mental illness but not ok to cancer, diabetes and all they other physical illnessess. Welcome to mental illness. This book not only brings you close to the subject matter but inside it.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Everyone
Review: I think this book will reach out best to middle-aged women as Patty Duke writes from that perspective. However, I was 18 when my father and I read it together. One of the virtutes of the book is that it isn't just about Patty, but also about the rest of her family. This allows for even the non bipolar afflicted to understand what is happening and how they can help. The fact that Patty Duke is well known is both a positive and a negative: positive because we all know her and negative because how many people live like a star? I think this book presents an accurate portrayal of a colorful illness in a digestible format. I think the book is a good read that will teach you about bipolar even if you aren't trying to learn.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put down.
Review: I was suffering from depression and my counsler ask me to read her book.This book helped me in looking at myself.She was an insperation to me and how she had to deal with her illness.She has given me hope for the furture.Because of her I'm starting to get my life back and going to school. Please thank her and I would like to hear from her.I'm going to write a book about my own depression and life.God bless her and keep up the good work.

Rating:
Summary: Matter of fact/Good beginning for bipolar education
Review: I went out and bought this book the day after my 5th therapist diagnosed me as bipolar. She was the first to ever give me a reason and explanation for my life and its events. I read Anna's book in three hours and felt as though my life was finally being explained and someone was justifing who I was. Now that I know why I am the way I am I can move forward and realize that I am not a freak but a human with a chemical imbalance that is now being controlled with lithium. The book is well written from two points of view a medical and personal. The book gives a person a condensed packet of information that can be worked with as one does future research on bipolar disease. Education is the key to understanding and that was the point brough across by these two fine women. Thank you Anna for opening my eyes once again.

Rating:
Summary: A personal story & solid info. and references on bipolar dis
Review: I would say that this is one of the most informative books on manic-depression, or bipolar disorder. Patty Duke's work is read by all in the psychiatric community, and the fact that she became a spokesperson for mental health did wonders to remove some of its stigma. It does more than tell her personal story. It is filled with up-to-date information on the illness, and should be read by those with the disorder, as well as their family members. It gives hope to those with bipolar disorder who accept the fact that they must stay on their medication and keep appointments with their doctor.

Rating:
Summary: A must for families and friends who suffer from manic depres
Review: It saddens me that this book is out of print. It is a must for families and friends who suffer from manic depression or live with one who does. It is a book that gives hope for the future and a path of healing....a process to take in order to heal. I feel it should be put back into the mainstream of bookstores, as since the time of writing more has been learned and acknowledged regarding this mental illness. The next generation (and also past) would benefit!

Rating:
Summary: This Book Help Me More Than My Psychiatric counseling Lady
Review: I`m 44 Yrs.I Have Allways Love Patty From Watching Her On T.V. I Even Have Her Doll With The Red Phone. I Also Am Bipolar and Was hospitalized 9 Years Ago. This Book Really Hits Home For Me. I Don`t Quite Feel As Bad About Being Bipolar. But I Would Love To Give A What To To Some Doctors Out There.I Live In Aberdeen, Washington And There Isn`t Much Here For Help. So I`m Very Thankful For This Book, I Would Recomend This Book Highly.
I Thank Patty For Wrighting Her Life.

Rating:
Summary: Solid medical info interlaced with painfully bad writing
Review: Ms. Duke is brave and honest in her account of manic depression but it's too bad her writing is so abysmal as to make the book nearly unreadable. It is saved from total disgrace by its sincerity, and the alternating chapters containing hard facts on the disorder.