Books about insanity are usually very compelling to read because of the rubber necking factor. To read about someone having a meltdown is fascinating stuff if you have never been touched by madness. If you have been touched by madness, you will find quiet comfort in reading about someone who has shared your merry hell. If you have a loved one with mental illness, these books can help you make sense of your loved one's suffering and give you hope for their recovery. The books below are a mixture of fiction and real life, but predominantly from the pens of people who have experienced mental illness in their lives and who are well qualified to write about it. If you have a fondness for a book that is not on the list, please note them below.
10. The Quiet Room - Lori Schiller
Lori was a regular girl in her teens, from an affluent and devoted family, whenever the dark cloud of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder descended in her life. This led to suicide attempts, desolation and squalor as Lori wandered the streets in rags, utterly tormented by the voices in her head. There was an endless cycle of hospitalisations, half way houses, relapses, suicidal despair - things seemed hopeless, bleak and Lori's future was very uncertain. However, with the aid of the correct medication (the wonder drug Clozapine) Lori began to improve mentally and she clawed back as much of her life as possible. It is doubtless that this book has helped and given hope to many people who have schizophrenia or in particular their loved ones. The book uses insights from Lori's parents and doctors which adds to the optimism factor. I am sure the book was pretty heavily co written. Schizophrenics are usually too cognitively impaired to impart their stories in such a succinct and coherent manner. That's not to say they can't do it, but it is an extremely hard mountain for many of them to climb. An interesting and moving account of one woman's battle against psychosis. A perfect introduction to the horrors of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder for the naif or the curious.