faithforever's Full Review: Patty Duke - A Brilliant Madness: Living With Mani...
What does it mean to be manic depressive? Patty Duke and Gloria Hochman describe the illness in multiple ways through their book, A Brilliant Madness, Living With Manic Depressive Illness.
Every other chapter is written by Patty Duke followed by a chapter by Gloria Hochman and each chapter is a continuous journey giving insight into the mood disorder that affects so many lives on a daily basis.
The chapters written by Patty Duke are most often references to her own experience with manic depression and the chapters written by Gloria Hochman are references to the experiences of many other individuals who's lives have been affected by manic depressive illness. Each chapter leads the reader to further understanding the disease and its multiple characteristics.
Manic Depression or bipolar disorder is a disease, a mood disorder, where patients struggle with manic phases and depressions that are life altering, life threatening and sometimes potentially fatal. The manic phase of the disease brings on periods of mania which can often include eccentric behaviors shown through changes in sleep (not sleeping or insomnia), extreme euphoria, delusions, grandiose thoughts, panic attacks, temper tantrums, spending sprees, sexually inappropriate behavior, racing thoughts and more. The depressions are often debilitating and sometimes lead to suicide attempts as they did with Patty Duke.
The book describes the illness' characteristics through personal insights from the authors and their experiences with the disease. Each chapter is focused on explaining to the reader the many phases and characteristics while approaching the subject of mental illness with a hopeful and honest perspective. The writers help the reader to better comprehend what it is to be manic-depressive and leads the reader to a better understanding of anyone who might have been diagnosed as manic-depressive or bipolar.
The writers also attempt to shed light on the ways that medicine can help and the possibilities for healing broken lives and relationships after the illness is properly diagnosed and treated. The authors encourage readers to remember that not everyone who is moody is bipolar and not everyone who is bipolar will be nearly so manic or depressed as some of the patients who have shared stories within these pages. The illness is treatable and the writers explain that most people who are diagnosed can be treated with medicine that balances moods because the disorder is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
A Brilliant Madness, Living With Manic Depressive Illness, is a book that will encourage and reach out to others who have been diagnosed with manic depressive illness and to those who have a relationship with someone who has been diagnosed. The illness itself is described through experiences related by both Patty Duke in her own experiences and through the descriptions of other's experiences as shared with medical reporter, Gloria Hochman.
The last section of the book is devoted to giving others the information they might require with pages of resources for the mentally ill and their families such as the American Psychiatric Association's address and phone number; Depression Awareness, Recognition and Treatment Program (DART)'s address and contact information; Depression and Related Affective Disorder's contact information; The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's contact information; National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association's contact information; National Mental Health Association's contact information and National Foundation for Depressive Illness contact information. The last section of the book also offers references and notes and an Index for those interested in follow up reading.
Some of the symptoms of the disease are also provided.
Symptoms of depression include persistent sad, anxious or empty mood; feelings of hopelessness or pessimism; feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex; decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"; difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions; restlessness or irritability; sleep disturbances; loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain; chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical disease; thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts.
Symptoms of mania include excessive "high" or euphoria feelings; a sustained period of behavior that is different from usual, increased energy, activity, restlessness, racing thoughts, and rapid talking; decreased need for sleep; unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers; extreme irritability and distractibility; uncharacteristically poor judgment; increased sexual drive; abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol and sleeping medication; obnoxious, provocative or intrusive behavior; and denial that anything is wrong.
The writers also place emphasis on the fact that manic depressive illness does show some relation to creativity and the arts in that a number of creative or artistic individuals are known to be manic-depressive. But they also emphasize that not everyone who is manic-depressive will be creative or artistic and not everyone who is creative or artistic is manic-depressive.
Most importantly, A Brilliant Madness, Living With Manic Depressive Illness by Patty Duke and Gloria Hochman, gives the reader ample opportunity to come to a better understanding of manic depression and to exactly how the illness affects patients and their families, without forcing the reader to wade through tons of medical terms that might be hard to understand.
I believe that A Brilliant Madness, Living With Manic Depressive Illness, goes a long way in describing the disease to a general audience while remaining focused on the fact that this is a very treatable disease. The writing is upbeat and will definitely help others who are diagnosed with Manic Depression or those who have a relationship with someone who has been diagnosed as manic depressive.
In her revealing bestseller Call Me Anna, Patty Duke shared her long-kept secret: the talented, Oscar-winning actress who won our hearts on The Patty ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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