“There is a particular kind of pain, elation, loneliness, and terror involved in this kind of madness. When you're high it's tremendous. The ideas and feelings are fast and frequent like shooting stars, and you follow them until you find better and brighter ones. Shyness goes, the right words and gestures are suddenly there, the power to captivate others a felt certainty. There are interests found in uninteresting people. Sensuality is pervasive and the desire to seduce and be seduced irresistible. Feelings of ease, intensity, power, well-being, financial omnipotence, and euphoria pervade one's marrow. But, somewhere, this changes. The fast ideas are far too fast, and there are far too many; overwhelming confusion replaces clarity. Memory goes. Humor and absorption on friends' faces are replaced by fear and concern. Everything previously moving with the grain is now against-- you are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and enmeshed totally in the blackest caves of the mind. You never knew those caves were there. It will never end, for madness carves its own reality.”
Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
Work
This memoir offers an intimate look into the life of a distinguished psychiatrist as they navigate the complexities of bipolar disorder. The author candidly shares their struggles, insights, and triumphs, providing a unique perspective on mental health and the human condition. more
Author
Kay Redfield Jamison is an American psychologist known for her research on mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. Her work delves into the relationship between psychological illness and artistic creation, profoundly influencing public understanding of mental health issues. more
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