Opinion of an unquiet mind

I enjoyed reading An Unquiet Mind. It was very interesting learning about the mental illness of manic depression that Kay Jamison had. That topic has always been interesting to me and I love learning more about how they got through their problems and what their life was like. The book was written in two perspectives from the same person which caught my attention. I was able to see two sides of the story and it helped me understand the story. Being able to see how hard life is for some people really opened my eyes. Kay jamison sharing her story i'm aure helped many others with the same problems that she encountered and I would reccomend this book to people.

Lithium

I believe that Kay's desire to rely on lithium began when she went to the psychiatric hospital in high school. She saw the patients, and she was able to understand their pain and know how they were feeling. Then, when she goes to California and drinks vodka before school everyday, that's when it really starts. After that, everything goes downhill. She has her first manic episode and comes to the realization that she has manic depression. It's sad to think about because it must be excruciatingly painful to watch yourself grow more and more familiar with an illness so tragic.

Who is harmed most?

Kay suffered a lot during this book and as a reader it was hard to know exactly how she felt but the book did make me realize that the people around the person with the depression are affected just as much and maybe even more than that person.

The life of moods

When reading this book I was facinated by the fact that people live theirs lives with all these different moods, I think that Kay, the author has felt so many different moods and feelings she was troubled with know who she really was inside

Kay's Life With the Illness

Although, in the end, Kay showed the reader that anything is possible no matter what. It still was extremely difficult for her to go through life with this type of disease and not really knowing whether or not her medication will work somedays. Kay's illness definitely effected some of her personal relationships with others. For example Kay's relationship with David. David and Kay had a very nice relationship but Kay was stuck when she didn't know whether or not to tell David about her illness. It must have been hard for her because she didn't know how she would react to certain situations because of her manic depressive illness. It was definitely hard to keep herself in check when it comes to her illness. But, when she finally told David about her illness a year later it must have made it a lot easier for her to talk to him because she knew that he was now aware of how she may act the reason behind that. It was extremely unfortunate for her to have to go through David's unexpected death. Especially with the added difficulty that her illness brought to the situation.

Kay's illness

Kay Redfield Jamison the author of An Unquiet Mind, shares her own battle with manic depressive illness. She shares the story about her initial denial and then resistance to receive any treatment for this illness. This story opened my eyes to this illness because it gave me an inside look on how hard it is to deal with something as serious as manic depressive illness. I completely admire Kay for her ability to go through something that was as challenging as dealing with this disease. I also admire Kay for "coming out of the closet" with her illness. It is always risky to openly come out with a illness like this. There is always a chance that people won't accept her for who she is and what she is living with. Although the story dragged during some parts I really enjoyed the overall message and really see Kay Redfield Jamison as a role model for those with mental illnesses such as hers.

Visiting the Grave

When Kay first met David, it was obvious that they instantly clicked. I could also tell that it killed her that she could not tell him about her manic depression, but I don't blame her. It must be incredibly difficult to open up to someone about that, especially with the thought in your head that they could respond in a very negative way and never speak to you again. But when David shows up about a year later, and she finally tells him, it brought her much closer to him. Their relationship progresses, but then David dies out of nowhere. It must have  been so hard for her to cope with the fact that an amazing person came around that actually accepted her for who she is, and was, without notice, taken away from her. Visiting his grave couldn't have been easy, and I'm sure it added a lot of weight onto her in addition to everything else that she had going on in her life.

Kay the Psychiatrist

Although sometimes redundant, I enjoyed the fact that in An Unquiet Mind, Kay Jamison describes manic-depression through the perspective of a psychiatrist and a patient, in a way. Struggling with bi-polar disorder, Kay accounts all the highs and lows that she faced, but also views it from a psychiatric stand point. Seeing that she works with other individuals who suffer from mental disorders while working in the field of medicine, it would be expected for Kay to be understanding of the concept of her mental illness, however the different perspective led her to resist medications (for the most part). I thought it was interesting that it was narrated in two completely opposite sides of the disorder- literally- which provided a better understanding on the disorder.

Kay and David

After reading about David and Kay's relationship i didnt think Kay could push through it and be able to stand on her own. David helped Kay through her illness more then other people did.

Writing Style

I found An Unquiet Mind dull at times on both sides of the spectrum: the need to describe the technicalities of her illness by bullet-pointing events and the flowery language that covered everything in sight. I understand the purpose of it being a "narrative" account, but it seemed a little contrived when the different techniques did not flow into each other. For example, she opens the second part "A Not So Fine Madness" with prose and existential ruminations, questioning what caused her descent into mental illness but transitions straight to her experience in the psychiatry faculty. This method is often used throughout the memoir, causing the style to become repetitive and ultimately disappointing. The perpetual juxtaposition of perception versus perspective was a successful technique at first but saw no variation. That is not to say it was not a fascinating read but her writing style was not unique or memorable.

Leading by Example

I greatly admire Jamison's courage to write about her own experience with manic depression and to open up about many personal hardships she's faced through out her life. Often those suffering from manic depression will not talk about how they are feeling for fear that they will be labeled as crazy by society. Jamison offers solace to those suffering from this illness and shows through her life that it's okay to open up and ask for help. She shows that there are many medication such as lithium and different kinds of therapies that can help keep a manic depressive's life in check. She shows through her own life that manic depression is not the end of one's professional or social life and that ultimatly life will go on for those suffering this illness.

Battling Stigma

One of the most powerful messages I felt Jamison expressed in her writing was the need to battle the stigma held against those battling with depression and mental illness such as manic depressive illness. In the introduction of her book Jamison expresses how too often manic depressive illness and various types of depression are seen as a weakness in one's character and not as an actual illness. Through reading her experience one can see that manic depressive illness, like any other sickness, can affect even the most stable individual. It is not a matter of getting over it and not feeling sad anymore, it is an actual sickness that creeps up on someone and needs to be treated with medicine and therapy. If the stigma against those suffering from manic depression can be lifted than more people will feel comfortable admitting they have this illness and seek out the help they need so that they can recover.

Controlling mental illness

Through out the book we read about Kay's struggles with illness. Everyday is a challenge for her and the medication is the only thing that keeps her in check with reality and its not always 100 percent successful. Kay learned how to control her mental illness by taking the right dosage of lithium and going to her psychotherapist. You cannot overcome a mental illness but you can learn how to control it as Kay did and live a healthy normal life.

Kay's Struggle

Every day was a struggle for Kay. Her mental illness made her life extremely hard and complicated. The medication she took had side effects and the smallest overdose of her medication was toxic. Kay said when she felt better, she would stop taking her medication because she hated the fact that she had to take it. When she would stop taking it, she would get extremely depressed and the cycle would start all over again. The illness made her life very tough.

Kay Jamison's writing style

I really enjoyed "An Unquiet Mind", I'm really into learning more about mental illness' which was the main subject of this novel. Another aspect that I really enjoyed about "An Unquiet Mind"was Jamison's writing style. She wrote the book from two perspectives which was an interesting component--one as a healthcare professional and the other as someone suffering from bipolar disorder. I also loved that the book was a memoir because it made me connect with the author more. The book gave a lot of insight on what it's like to have this disease. I overall would rate the book a 4 out of 5, I really enjoyed it!

Hanging On

Kay's strength showed throughout the book and it never failed. She was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and get past the road blocks in her life. Being able to succeed in life, going to school and starting a career, shows the great amount of strength she had. I didn't think once at all while reading this book that Kay was a weak link. She proved how headstrong she was. 

Kay's Struggles

Being that Kay suffers from depression, there are many obstacles in Kay's life. The one part of the book that stuck out to me was the fact that Kay had the strength and ability to talk to someone about her troubles. The ability to realize that you need help is a huge step to healing your problem. Even though a mental illness like that will never fully go away, she had the power to make it better and easier to handle. 

Overcoming Mental Illness

Kay learned to control most of her depression, but mental illness never just goes away. Kay became very successful as an author and at Johns Hopkins University. Kay's story makes me think that maybe other people with mental illnesses who have struggled socially or emotionally can find resources that will help them overcome there own disorders. Between dealing with medications and other complications to life that were made to help her get over her disorder Kay started to understand even more about herself and that's what really helped her conquer her disorder. If Kay can do it, hopefully her story will inspire others to do it too.

Kay's world

Manic depression is made a reality for me in this book. I don't have the personal experiences with depression and Kay's story made me more aware of the lifestyle that is forced upon people with this disorder. She has to take medication, which of course come with side effects. She experiences upward spirals in mood only to be brought down again, even lower. Kay's story really connected with me on a personal level because of real her situation was and how much she had to go through. I enjoyed getting further into the book because i felt like a proud parent watching Kay slowly conquer her disability only to become a successful author.

About Mental Illness

Kay explains, obviously from personal experience, how tough it is to deal, cope with, and accept mental illness. Not only is it difficult for the person suffering from the illness, it affects the people around the person as well. To be able to live a happy and healthy life with a mental illness, you must not only have the appropriate medication (in Kay’s case, lithium), but also a positive attitude otherwise the illness can get the worst of you.

Kay's Struggle

In her childhood she was “intensely emotional” and endured countless mood swings. As she became older, her emotional roller coaster worsened when she denied medication and treatment and even attempted suicide. She struggle daily with her manic depression but with the help of professionals, friends, and loved ones she managed to take control of her life and accept her illness.

Kay's Illness

It takes a lot of strength to be able to accept a disease and even more to be able to openly talk about it, just as Kay did. There are many different sides to Kay’s disease, for example the fact that she had to use medication and the many side effects of it, and she was extremely brave to be open about it in her novel. She gave us insight to the world of mental illnesses and how people who have them get through it.

accepting life

Kay's mental illness had taken over her life. Throughout the memoir it shows Kay's ups and downs in moods and in the end only therapy and medication can help her and also from the support of her family,  friends and doctor. Kay stayed strong by accepting her illness.

Mental Toughness

Kay's life isn't easy. Everyday she battles major internal and external issues, mainly due to her mental illness. For a while it brought her down and had her depressed. Regardless of all this she pulled through, and even though she had much support from family and friends I believe it was her mental toughness that allowed her to do so.

Learning about Corrective Drugs

The use of drugs or more relevantly a single drug is evident throughout the novel. In our everyday lives its common to hear about the abuse of hard drugs and prescription drugs, and the ways they can be detrimental to a persons life. What we don't usually hear about, is the effects of drugs meant to benefit a persons life. Kay's battle with her illness is greatly effected by them as seen in the story. Before reading I didn't know nearly as much about corrective drugs such as Lithium.

Shedding Light on Mental Illness

Kay's battles with her manic depression is truly brought to light throughout the novel. It gives an in depth look on its effects on a person and the people around them. Once can understand the social struggles a mental illness can have on a persons' life while reading this book.

Ending Discrimination

In the memoir, Kay remembers an angry letter that she received from someone who was offended by her using the word "madness" in one of her presentations.  In Kay's opinion, she prefers manic-depressive illness in the place of the term bipolar disorder.  Kay also explains that there must be a change in the language used in describing mental illnesses, so that there is no discrimination on the people suffering from a disorder.  I completely agree with Kay, so many times there are people who are afraid of coming out and admitting that they have a disorder because they are afraid of how people might look or perceive them.   

Support of Family and Friends

This book showed the readers tremendous amount of love, respect, concern and heartache. Kay had a lot of support from her family her brother who was always her rock and best support system until she got older and started to have relationships. The men in Kay's life loved  her for the beautiful women she has become and the mountains she climbed. They understood about her illness and gave her the support she needed.

Kay the Author

Kay is a remarkable women to write this book about her life. Yes, people can say she made money on written the book. In my eye's she's a true hero. Kay's book An Unquiet Mind will help other people out their with bipolar keep their head up and know that help is a arms length away. It will also, benefit other readers to me more understanding of the illness. "Thank you Kay Redfield Jamison"

Life on Lithium

This story has taught me a lot about the illness but most of all the drug lithium. The story tells us about the side effects that Kay had to feel with being on this drug. It also, taught us that this drug is amazing and how it can help people with bipolar function in the world and have a normal life.

Realistic

It's quite common in popular media for characters with mental conditions to have a traumatizing childhood event be the only extant reason for their adult troubles. It's either the sexual abuse that happened when they were young or the broken home (just something tragic) that caused they're severe multiple personality disorder or tendency towards isolation or crippling anorexia. The list is endless. But this is not the case in An Unquiet Mind by Kay Jamison. Her memoir is such a perfect example of not being predisposed to any early environmental factors but still developing some type of disorder that may be hereditary or the product of an imbalance in the brain.
It's hard enough for people with mental disorders to be taken seriously but it's especially difficult when there's no apparent reason for it. It's easy to see an amputee's or a cancer survivor's problems because you can easily make the connection: "Oh, cancer" or "Oh, missing limb" but when it's not even palpably obvious to the person affected by the mental disorder, it becomes difficult. Jamison was blessed with a carefree childhood but still developed manic depression. Anyone struggling with this type of ailment can find solace in her account.

Kay and David's relationship

I think that the way David influences Kay plays an important role in her story by the way that they experience ups and downs. Just like in any relationship they're are mistakes made and it is safe to say David and Kay both have made mistakes in the way they treat each other. Although at times David was not an ideal person for Kay to have by her side, the stayed determined and faught through her illness. This should be an inspiration to all!

Kay's disease

I think that this memoir introduces us as the reader, to the many different and unknown sides of Kay's disease. Throughout the story of Kay, she opens doors to the many unshaded areas, such as medication, her side affects of it and her life with and without it. This story shows how mental illness' need to be treated and taken care of in a proper way and the reprocussions if not. 

David and Kay

When Kay met David he was very supportive and kind to her. He was understanding about her illness and he cared for her through her depressions. He helped to make her feel like herself again. Throughout the book, love and support help Kay to get through the worst times of her illness.

Kay and her illness

Kay was very brave to discuss her manic-depressive illness with others even though it could change their views of how they think of her. She didn't want to lose her place at work because of her illness. Theres a stigma associated with manic-depressive illness at times where people aren't understanding, like when Kay's doctor said she shouldn't have children.

Having a friend like Kay

If I had a friend like Kay I would be more patient about how they act and understand the illness better. I would also try to help guide my friend in the right direction. Being able to talk to them to get things off their mind would be the first step. I think being able to talk to the person would help comfort them while they suffer from a problem/illness.

Kay's Medication

While Kay suffers a bad illness, she depends on her medication to keep her calm and not let her life be destroyed. Although the medication wasn't the best for her to take, the medication was the only thing that helped her live her life the best it could be.

Looking into a Mirror

WOW!!  What a great book. Kay is a wonderful women. To have the illness she has and will always have and to finish school and become a Professor of Psychiatry is truly amazing. Now she can help
people with the same illness and truly look at them like she's looking into a mirror. If I had manic
depression I would truly want to be taking care of by a doctor who know how I'm feeling.

The Love of David

Kay was so happy to fall in love again with a great man named David. After, knowing each other for several months, Kay was able to move on with David. He brought such joy to Kay, understood her and loved Kay for what she was, not what sickness she had. Love can help conquer all!!!!!

Bonding with a Brother

I was so happy to read about the bond that Kay had with her eldest brother. The relationship between the
two of them reminds me so much of my brother. He was her rock and the always made her feel protected.

Kay's medication and psychotherapy

In the beginning of Kay's struggle with manic-depression she tries to handle everything on her own and does not think she needs medicine and therapy. She did not believe she had the illness even after reading about it in her work. After her mental breakdown, she realizes the medication along with therapy is the best solution to control it. She gives good advice to readers that medication is not always a bad thing and will help dramatically along with therapy.

Staying Strong

It's amazing that she was able to keep going on with her life even when she went through the darkest times of her depression, like her multiple suicide attempts. Still going to school and establishing her career, knowing that if it was found out by the wrong people that she had manic depression illness, she may not have been able to work in the field she did. A lot of people can't keep going and give up and never think that things will ever get better. I love the fact that she found the strength to keep going no matter what.

Life of depression

It's hard living a life of depression. Having so much energy, and being able to do so many things and then becoming really tired and not having the drive to do much. Like when she said that she could read a few books a week and then it became difficult for her to be able to read an article in a magazine. It changes you completely and it's hard to go back to your old self.

Life without Children

I truly believe the Kay is heroic not deciding to have children. Children bring you much love and happiness and someone that will always be by your side. Her choice I believe was very hard but she didn't want a
child to go through want she is dealing with in life.