Patient Life Stories

Published

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I often times find myself watching some of my more acutely sick patients and wonder what it must be like to live in their world. How intense, and sometimes frightening, or even disorienting life with a major mental illness would have to be. So I am inquiring if anyone had any good ideas as to memoirs of people dealing with mental illness. I have been on a bit of a hunt for the last few days looking for good ones. I would especially love one that clearly depicts the life of someone dealing with schizophrenia or someone who is severely bipolar (how exhausting and yet exciting life would have to be in a very manic phase!!!). I have picked up a few and if they turn out to be good reads I will be sure to let you know!!!

:thankya:

Manda

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Look for a recent movie titled "Canvas"......it seems to be one of the better hollywood treatments on what it's like for the patient and their family.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

Personally I prefer the blogs. They are far more real; far less hollywood.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

There are a series of books written by a woman-- I forget the titles but she is a psychiatrist herself and also suffers from bipolar disorder. There are like mayb 4 of them. When I did a search trying to find a good book to help me gain more knowledge into what I do everyday as a psych RN (I am not new but always like to learn more!LOL) I came across her books...they looked interesting and I almost bought one but ended up with an old classic about borderlines......I hate you Don't leave me..... they sounded interesting and She likely has an interesting take on things....and all but one of them had great reviews. If you don't find them send me a message and I can look-- I did a search on barnes and noble .com under bipolar....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There are a series of books written by a woman-- I forget the titles but she is a psychiatrist herself and also suffers from bipolar disorder. There are like mayb 4 of them. When I did a search trying to find a good book to help me gain more knowledge into what I do everyday as a psych RN (I am not new but always like to learn more!LOL) I came across her books...they looked interesting and I almost bought one but ended up with an old classic about borderlines......I hate you Don't leave me..... they sounded interesting and She likely has an interesting take on things....and all but one of them had great reviews. If you don't find them send me a message and I can look-- I did a search on barnes and noble .com under bipolar....

Her name is Kay Redfield Jameson. I have two of her books: An Unquiet Mind (about her personal experience of Bipolar I) and Night Falls Fast (about suicide). I have read the first one a couple times and really enjoyed it. I just bought the second, so I will have to let you know. You should be able to get both of these used at BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Patty Duke wrote a book about her Bipolar disorder.

Other books I've read that I recommend, tho not written by people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders are:

I Hate You, Don't Leave Me -- Jerold J. Kreisman & Hal Straus

The Making of a Psychiatrist -- David Viscott, MD

PsychWard -- Stephen B. Seager, MD

Crazy All the Time On the Psych Ward of Bellevue Hospital

-- Frederick I. Covan, PhD

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is a book I read a long time ago that I liked as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just finished When Rabbit Howls written by some of the 92 multiple personalities of Truddi Chase (as a collaborative effort!) Not a very common disorder, but fascinating reading. For some eloquent perspectives on depression, try poetry by Sylvia Plath or read The Bell Jar. It is a fictional work but based heavily on her own life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The Minds of Billy Milligan written by Daniel Keyes is a pretty good one about Multiple Personality Disorder. Its a true story and Keyes developed the book from interviews with Billy, state hospitals, law enforcement, etc. Billy Milligan was arrested for the rape of 3 women and in a landmark trial was acquitted by reason of insanity caused by MPD-the first such court decision in history. Interesting read.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Elizabeth Wurtzel wrote two memoirs:

"Prozac Nation," about growing up with depression and

"More, Now Again," which was about becoming addicted to the ritalin she was prescribed when the prozac stopped working for her.

My personal faves, Marya Hornbacher's two memoirs:

"Wasted," about growing up with Anorexia and Bulimia and

"Madness," which details her life, even as a child, with Bipolar I. Really awesome book. When she was young, they kept giving her Prozac, not knowing it was making her Bipolar worse... If you're going to read one though, read both. They really do fit nicely together...

And another one, Terri Cheney

"Manic," also about Bipolar Disorder

Another good book is Jennifer Storm's

"Blackout Girl" about a woman's life after being sexually assaulted.

Not all of these are about Bipolar Disorder, but they all are about mental health issues, so...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ..

Madness, by Mayra Hornbacher, is a brilliant insight into Bipolar Disorder and mental illness as well as revolving door patient syndrome. It's brilliantly written. You begin to feel hypomanic yourself after the first chapter or so.

Also - Get Me Out Of Here is a brilliant representation of Borderline Personality Disorder.

A lot of my friends have recommended A Life In Pieces as being brilliant but I haven't read it. It's about DID.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion