Kay R.J., "The Restless Mind."

Author: Kay Redfield Jamison Original title: An Unquiet Mind Genre: autobiography, memoir Year of first publication: 1995 Medical topic: bipolar disorder The author, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, is a distinguished psychologist, therapist, and academic. She is a researcher, one of the leading authorities on bipolar disorder, and the author of numerous scientific publications. Her interest in mood disorders stems from the fact that she herself suffers from bipolar disorder. Although her colleagues were aware of her condition, in this book she told the world about her illness for the first time. It is a memoir in which Dr. Jamison describes her life with the illness. To help us better understand the progression of her condition, she also recounts her childhood years and the presence of bipolar disorder in her family. She explains in detail what manic and depressive episodes meant to her. She recounts how her academic career developed and how the illness affected her. Dr. Jamison discusses the lithium therapy she underwent, highlighting the doubts she had about using mood stabilizers, the side effects of the treatment, while also emphasizing its effectiveness. Additionally, she shows how important interpersonal relationships, love, and the support of her family and partners were for her stable functioning. This is perhaps the most famous book depicting bipolar disorder. What makes it unique is the author’s distinctive perspective on her own condition—she presents both the patient’s and the clinician’s points of view. Dr. Jamison says that although the illness was difficult for her at many times, if she could decide whether she wanted to be ill, given today’s treatment options, she would choose to be. While she highlights the darkest aspects of her disorder, she consistently presents its brighter sides as well—she repeatedly emphasizes that the symptoms of the illness are also linked to certain predispositions and creativity. She asserts that she is not convinced she would have achieved so much had it not been for her condition. The author explains why even the most rational patients do not always cooperate when it comes to taking mood stabilizers. And using her own example, she shows that a patient treated sensibly, with appropriate forms of supervision, can not only function normally—including in work with other patients—but also become someone exceptional. A wonderful book; I highly recommend it.