Hi Biomaven, yes I read that years ago and thought it was really well done. Really gave you a sense of what it was like inside her world. Have interviewed her once too.
One thing I will say, that her book, and also Andrew Solomon's Noonday Demon gave me insights, yet somehow, I really don't understand. At the end of his book he talks about how much joy he has in life but even when he tastes gunmetal in his mouth (ie even on drugs he has frequent images of blowing his brains out). That I find very unsettling.
In addition, though, his book helped explain something to me that psychiatrists on this board may already understand. That is, there is the disease, and there is personality disorder, and they can be separate. Obviously Kay Jamison does not have a personality disorder. She has an intact personality that was able to manage a successful career and second marriage and eventually accept the drugs. Andrew Solomon says his book is only about those who suffer depression, not those who have emotional problems and hurt those they love with the depression by indulging it and expecting others to pick up the pieces. He wants to write about the heroes, not those who have concomitant personality disorders and lack a sense of personal responsibility, who figure they can wreak havoc in others lives and that is okay. I personally have known a couple of people like that. I know they are haunted individuals but I did not want them in my life. |
