I’ve had to assemble a list of comparative titles in writing the book proposal for my memoir, The Story of Hope. In doing so, I’ve read many books on mental illness, especially on bipolar disorder and OCD (but mainly bipolar disorder). Here are ____ memoirs on mental illness you might want to check out.
1) Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running From Madness by Suzy Favor Hamilton
This book is about bipolar Olympic runner turned high-class escort. Suzy Hamilton starts off fighting for Olympic gold. But when she and her three-wayhusband decide to have a family instead, Suzy finds herself unhappy and restless. Her first glint of happiness is when she and her husband go to Las Vegas and have a threeway with an escort. Soon, Suzy herself becomes an escort, the second highest ranked in Las Vegas, with her husband’s permission. She enjoys the crazy lavish lifestyle as men buy her expensive gifts and pay money for her services. But eventually, she is exposed and has to deal with the fallout. As she does so, it becomes apparent something is wrong and she is diagnosed as bipolar. When I’m manic, I will do almost anything for an adrenaline rush.
2) An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
One of the most well known and popular books on the subject, Kay Redfield’s Jamison’s memoir also looks at bipolar disorder medically and psychologically. It explores the side effects of medication (which many other books don’t do and which Hope suffers from). It goes into the debate on if those who are being treated for bipolar disorder should have children. It is ranked #3 on Amazon in Coping with Bipolar Disorder. Jamison teaches and practices on the subject of mood disorders so it’s kind of inspiring to see that someone with bipolar disorder can still excel at a career.
3) Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D by Lizzie Simon
In this memoir, Lizzie embarks on a cross-country road trip to interview young adults suffering from a similar problem she is dealing with bipolar disorder. One of the characters she interviews, Nicholas, is similar to Derrick, a character in The Story of Hope, with which Hope has a tumultuous relationship. The other characters Lizzie interviews each have their own stories to tell just like Hope tells her story.
4) Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig
Using the same, somewhat sarcastic, sometimes sardonic Hope employs, this memoir is from the point of view of a young girl (Jennifer) suffering from OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) which Hope also has. Both girls have obsessions over things that are impossible or highly unlikely (at the beginning of the book Hope believes she is pregnant despite not having sex). Jennifer has trouble driving for example because she is convinced she keeps running over people (this is more common with people with OCD than you would think).
5) This Fragile Life: A Mother’s Story of a Bipolar Son by Charlotte Pierce-Baker
This memoir is from the point of view of a mother whose son has bipolar one just like Hope. Just so you know, there are two “types” of bipolar. Bipolar one is characterized by more manic episodes. However, unlike Hope, he is also a cocaine addict and he has violent tendencies when he gets manic, ending up in jail several times. Among other things, he hits his wife and drowns his stepdaughter’s kitten in front of her. Hope is only a danger to herself; she does not physically lash out at others.
6) Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher and Joshua Ravetch
Written by movie star Carrie Fisher, this book chronicles her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and bipolar disorder. Despite the serious subject matter, it is lighthearted and is told with amusement. In a similar way, Hope is able to laugh at herself and her predicaments, making sarcastic comments even in the darkest times. Hope also struggles with alcohol addiction. She drinks to numb the pain from the depression caused by her disorders….and she drinks to excess.
7) Amen, Amen, Amen: Memoir of a Girl Who Couldn't Stop Praying (Among Other Things) by Abby Sher
This girl (Abby) suffered from OCD and an eating disorder. I felt frustrated that no one around her seemed to be giving her adequate support except her eventual husband. But you can’t help somebody that does not want to be helped or can’t see that they have a problem. Sadly, it’s common for mentally ill people to resist treatment.
8) Just Checking: Scenes from the life of an obsessive compulsive by Emily Colas
This was such an entertaining (and yet very real) account of what it's like to have OCD. She loses her husband because she is not willing to get help. Or are they just not made for each other? One thing that impresses me is how she is a mother to two young children and yet suffers more than I do. I don’t know if I’ll ever be mentally stable enough to be a mother….a source of sadness for me.
So what about you? Do you know any other stories about mental illness? There are hundreds out there! Shoot me a message, leave a comment. Come back for more!
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