Scan barcode
A review by o88
Madness: A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher
5.0
Madness is not for the squeamish nor does it have a happy ending. Marya struggles includes an eating disorder, cutting, suicide attempts, sleep deprivation, addiction, depression, anxiety, failed relationships, and seven hospitalizations (where she underwent electroconvulsive therapy at one point). It's the life of someone who is habitually living life on the edge and in crisis. It gives you a glimpse into the world of someone who is struggling just to survive and is in a cycle of starting and putting out fires in their life due to bipolar disorder.
I read this book because I wanted to demystify bipolar disorder. I quit this book three maybe four times because some portions made me very uncomfortable, but I sucked it up and finished because I didn't want to turn my back on this issue. I think we need to confront these issues because there are millions of people who are suffering and self-destructing over an issue that seems to have no clear treatment path apart from mentally sedating oneself on a variety of medications often times to mixed results.
Ultimately, in lieu of her irresponsibility and doing everything imaginable to sabotage her rehabilitation, I felt a great deal of compassion for her by the end of the book. Her current regimen to manage her mental life consists of an assortment of drugs, therapy, vitamins, journalling, etc. Thousands and thousands of dollars are put in on a monthly basis for the hope that she can just live a normal life to which she admits may likely never occur. Her life is simply structured around surviving. I think if she commits to not self-sabotaging things she has a shot, but she is her own worst enemy at the end of the day. If current scientific research is accurate on human behaviour---she may not have much of a say on the matter as the brain is ultimately in the driver seat and if you have a defective one then your life is going to be the sort of rollercoster that she's on.
I can't give his book any less than 5 stars because she was brutally honest and transparent.
Good luck Marya.
5/5
I read this book because I wanted to demystify bipolar disorder. I quit this book three maybe four times because some portions made me very uncomfortable, but I sucked it up and finished because I didn't want to turn my back on this issue. I think we need to confront these issues because there are millions of people who are suffering and self-destructing over an issue that seems to have no clear treatment path apart from mentally sedating oneself on a variety of medications often times to mixed results.
Ultimately, in lieu of her irresponsibility and doing everything imaginable to sabotage her rehabilitation, I felt a great deal of compassion for her by the end of the book. Her current regimen to manage her mental life consists of an assortment of drugs, therapy, vitamins, journalling, etc. Thousands and thousands of dollars are put in on a monthly basis for the hope that she can just live a normal life to which she admits may likely never occur. Her life is simply structured around surviving. I think if she commits to not self-sabotaging things she has a shot, but she is her own worst enemy at the end of the day. If current scientific research is accurate on human behaviour---she may not have much of a say on the matter as the brain is ultimately in the driver seat and if you have a defective one then your life is going to be the sort of rollercoster that she's on.
I can't give his book any less than 5 stars because she was brutally honest and transparent.
Good luck Marya.
5/5