Madness: A Bipolar Life

This books came to me as a saviour in moments when I was desperately searching for answers.Long before my husband's diagnosis I knew something was wrong. As wrong as it was, I pretty much diagnosed him myself before he made his way to a doctor.We struggled a lot through the period of his illness, when it was not supervised by someone who knew more about it than us, and before the right medication and the right dosage of it was prescribed.He refused to talk to me about it, and I did not understand what he was going through.There is plenty of books about bipolar disorder which cover the illness from the official medical point of view (causes, symptoms, treatments). I had read plenty of them and I just felt like I was reading the same information over and over again, but I was not getting the answers to my questions.This book gave me what I was looking for. It helped me understand what my husband was feeling and why he acted the way he acted. It helped me see that the crazy and hurtful things were not him, but the illness. It helped me position myself differently and respond differently to his unreasonable acts. Last but not least, it helped me communicate with him better and ask the right questions.I really think that this book contributed a great deal to my now peaceful household and to my husband opening up to me about his struggles with the illness. I am not sure whether we would be where we are today if I did not read it.

I am in love with Mayra Hornbacher. I read her book Wasted in college and was blown away. And she does it again in Madness. She is seriously a genius. Mental illness is so difficult to write about and there are so few books that come even close to capturing it - this book is the best that I've read on Bipolar. Further, Hornbacher wrote it while at the same time going through it. I am so impressed by her; I don't know how she did it. I got my masters in writing and I would be beyond thrilled if I could be half as good a writer as she is. This is an amazing book - I would recommend it to anyone who is bipolar, who knows someone bipolar, or who just wants to read an incredible memoir. And I would recommend reading Wasted as well - and read it first. Seriously, I would give this 6 stars if I could!

I had to read this memoir in small chunks that I could handle over several days. I have never been caught up in such a wild storm of anguish and terror. I found myself alternately hyper, tense, shaky, queasy, and so very sad. My own bouts with depression since childhood are nothing but drops in the ocean compared to the painful horrors this lovely woman has endured. The memoir is the most frightening carnival ride I have ever been on, and of course it will probably never completely end for her. My heart is broken for her and her loved ones as they deal with this monster day after day, never knowing when it is going to strike again.I also thank her for sharing this story so far; I feel that I at least understand more about it, and can recognize it and connect with compassion and sympathy when dealing with others who have this disorder. I hope for her sake, and for the sake of millions of others like her, that the insurance companies do much more to provide better treatment options and medications, and make them affordable to everyone. I wish her all the luck in the world, and God's help, to live a comfortable, happy life. You know, we know these wonderful people, and some of them are us.

If you, or someone you know, have Bipolar disorder, I suggest picking this up. For someone, like myself, who has this illness, it's comforting to know you are not alone. It also can be a terrific guide on what to watch for and what to avoid. Her story also gives me hope. Hope that some day I can have more control over my illness, instead of the other way around. The story she tells about her life and thought process could really help a someone understand more of what a loved one may be going through. On a side note: to those who live with, or take care of, someone with Bipolar disorder, if they are seeking help from a psychologist/psychiatrist (and they should be), try to be with your loved one at their appointments as much as possible. My wife has learned so much from my doctors. I hope this helps.

My mother suffered from bipolar 1 disorder. Her first episode was in the early 70s and it was still referred to as being manic depressive. I was 11 years old and came home from school to a mother that was laughing, crying, dancing to music that was never listened to in our house. We were NPR people. That was the beginning of the rest of our lives with a crazy mom. She was a poet and an artist. I am an artist and some people say I am crazy. I am forever grateful to my crazy mother for letting Me see another side of life. Your book gave me a deeper understanding Of her pain and her strength. Thank you.

Thank you so much for such a raw and honest book about your illness as well as your life. I have a sister and a mother I have watched them go through the same things as you. It is devastating to watch the people you love suffer and not be able to help. I have been dealing with it since 1970 and have watched psychological illness treatment change so much for the better. Both my loved ones going through years trying to get the right medication. I am so inspired by them for the fight which is every day. They are so talented and educated. Even when your stable it sneaks up on them and you. You live your life day to day hoping that they are not going to spiral out,stop taking medication to be manic. Again.. thank you for you honesty, love , health, and most importantly happiness to all who suffer. Life is beautiful.

Dr Lentz makes an important recommendation to her, which is to stop taking in Caffine, stop drinking coffee or tea or eating any caffinated foods. Then continually throughout the book, its going out forCoffee with someone. So, the patient failed to follow Dr Lentz ssuggestions. Doctors at the different institutes apparrently did not know the fundamental dietry restriction that Dr Lentz first siggested. I can assure you that even being diagnosted with Type Ii in remission, bi-polar exists in some form, and stopping Caffine stops wondering thoughts, keeps a person in the present.

A candid account of one girls mental health struggles. I like her writing style. Having read her previous book Wasted I wanted to follow it up with this. I’d suggest reading Wasted first to give yourself a background history of her life and her multiple problems . Reading the first book will give yourself a more holistic view of Marya and a better understanding of her battle with her mind. Very powerful and stark account well worth reading.

Unputdownable. As I read this I thought of my friend, who is both anorexic and bipolar, and it really helped me understand some of her stranger excesses, anxieties and moods, so I am grateful for that. I cannot give this 5 starts as it is hard not to sometimes feel that the graphic details (self harm and descriptions of being very thin) are described with some pride (I know, I've been there and felt a little guilty pride in doing the same when retelling my extreme behaviours). Mind you, it is almost impossible to write about these things without coming across that way, its the nature of the beast. It is amazing Marya managed to produce the great writing that she has though, despite all this, and so vividly.

This book pulls no punches in giving you a "ringside seat" into this devastating illness. The most serious form is when psychotic episodes appear. I give this book a 5 star rating for its honesty and descriptive excellence. It is a very challenging and at times frightening book to read but as Marya Hornbacher says herself it is what it is. I salute her immense bravery. An essential read for patients, their families and also the general population. Education is the only way forward to improve treatment and respect for those suffering from this illness and to rid us of the scourge of stigma and discrimination.

read her first book wasted years ago and loved it , this was equally brilliant , she has such a poetic way of writing

as always, marya delivers fantastically, can't believe i'd never read it. her writing is so rich and vivid and manic, it spills from the page so effortlessly. never found a writer quite like marya, and i wish she would write more!