An Unquiet Mind
Book - 1995 | First edition.
0679443746


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Add a SummaryIn her bestselling classic, An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison changed the way we think about moods and madness.
Dr. Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive (bipolar) illness; she has also experienced it firsthand. For even while she was pursuing her career in academic medicine, Jamison found herself succumbing to the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic depressions that afflicted many of her patients, as her disorder launched her into ruinous spending sprees, episodes of violence, and an attempted suicide.
Here Jamison examines bipolar illness from the dual perspectives of the healer and the healed, revealing both its terrors and the cruel allure that at times prompted her to resist taking medication. An Unquiet Mind is a memoir of enormous candor, vividness, and wisdom—a deeply powerful book that has both transformed and saved lives.
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"Manic-depressive illness forces one to deal with many aspects of growing old- with its physical and mental infirmities- many decades in advance of age itself."

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Add a CommentAn unquite mind was a story in which i learned that the author experienced her reality with depression with a very unique personal perception. I was not informed by her level of personal battles of depression. She relived most of her on going behaviors throughout the book. Is a very well depicted story and like i said, a learning pre-percieved point of view. Loved it!!
This is a very honest tale of a courageous intelligent woman dealing with manic-depressive disorder. In addition to having this crippling disease she also treats those who are manic. Jamison finds relief with medication (Lithium) and describes her trials with staying on the medication. She becomes a staunch proponent of psychotherapy AND medication. The story is more biographical than it is disease descriptive. I learnt a great deal about manic-depressive disease such as its genetic basis. After finishing the book I felt a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Ms Jamison in detailing her experiences despite the stigma attached to mental illness.
This is a story about the author and how her manic depressive illness has affected her. Interesting read, devastating and vindicating.
This memoir fell far from my expectations. The writing sounded cold, impersonal, and clinical. Author should have focused more on the details of the manias and depressions, instead of the accomplishments in her career. However, I praise her for having the courage to write it.