An Unquiet Mind by Kay R. Jamison
To participate in this blog, select the Sign in link at the top right of this screen, then log in to Blogger. Once Blogger's Dashboard is displayed, select View Blog from the right side of the "An Unquiet Mind Discussion" box. Use comments on the side bar as a guide and express yourself by selecting the New Post link at the top right of this screen, or comment on another's post by selecting the comments link at the bottom of the particular post.
This is a student-friendly place to discuss your summer reading assignment with your peers. Use this Blog only for matters related to the book - this is not a social networking outlet.
As you respond to the questions and postings related to the book you are reading, keep in mind that all blog postings will be monitored. If you use inappropriate language you will be reported.
This is for English class; therefore, you must write in full sentences and use correct punctuation and grammar. Please avoid texting or IM language, abbreviations, slang, emoticons, etc. In order to receive credit, blogs must be well thought out and at least three sentences in length.
This is a student-friendly place to discuss your summer reading assignment with your peers. Use this Blog only for matters related to the book - this is not a social networking outlet.
As you respond to the questions and postings related to the book you are reading, keep in mind that all blog postings will be monitored. If you use inappropriate language you will be reported.
This is for English class; therefore, you must write in full sentences and use correct punctuation and grammar. Please avoid texting or IM language, abbreviations, slang, emoticons, etc. In order to receive credit, blogs must be well thought out and at least three sentences in length.
8/27/13
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.
1 comment:
I totally agree with Erin on the idea that the stigma attached to disorders, especially manic depressive disorders, are enormously destructive when the commonly held notion in society is that they are an impediment, a nuisance, to others who don't have to deal with them. There's a quote by Stephen Fry that I love speaking about mental illnesses in general,
"Here are some obvious things about the weather: It's real. You can't change it by wishing it away. If it's dark and rainy it really is dark and rainy and you can't alter it. It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row.
BUT
It will be sunny one day. It isn't under one's control as to when the sun comes out, but come out it will.
One day.
It really is the same with one's moods, I think. The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions. They are real. Depression, anxiety, listlessness - these are as real as the weather - AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE'S CONTROL. Not one's fault. BUT
They will pass: they really will."
In Kay's situation, she was too ashamed of the shortcomings she felt she had (but were totally out of her control) and kept her from letting people know about her condition. Fortunately, Kay gathered her courage and wrote this memoir expelling common misconceptions that could otherwise be destructive to someone else dealing with a disorder.
Post a Comment