5 Books That Accurately Portray Mental Illness As Told By A Bipolar Woman
You read for two reasons: you either want to escape reality, or you want to experience it further. Books have a way of providing a safe space of being in worlds different from what we already know. When faced with a life-altering diagnosis, one may find comfort in the words and worlds of their favorite author rather than their own. I know that’s where I found mine.
These are books that are crafted to help the reader both escape everyday life and simultaneously feel it on a deeper level. Instead of exploiting mental health, they create an atmosphere of enlightenment, rather than one of certain demise.
*DISCLAIMER*: In no way am I affirming or denying one's struggles with their mental illness, as I do not have a background in ones other than my own.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - Psychosis/Depression
At first glance, this book is about a college student during a questionable time in America’s history. Esther, our protagonist, starts off as your typical college student; an ode to Sylvia Plath's own days at University. However, as you dive deeper into the book, you learn to swim in the waters of Sylvia Plath’s psyche in this semi-autobiographical novel. The reader gets to see firsthand Esther’s descent into madness, and what it means not only for her, but everyone around her.
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff - Addiction
This book was the first of Sheff’s narrative pieces; and as a child of addicts, and honestly, just as an empathetic human, it was a tough read. Published in 2008, this stunning memoir is told from a caring father’s point of view; showcasing the deterioration of his son, Nic, during his struggle with meth addiction. As Nic further recedes, the reader is drawn into the core familial question of what it means to truly help someone you love.
Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee - Psychosis
When starting this book, it seems like a lighthearted story of a Asian-American family, and it is- until the protagonist’s little sister starts hearing voices. You are then catapulted into what it not only is to struggle with mental illness, but to be the family of those affected. Devastatingly written, this tale of sisterhood and tragedy is a story that will stay with those who read it long after they’ve finished.
Manic by Terri Cheney - Bipolar Disorder
In her debut memoir, Terri Cheney tells her life through sporadic glimpses into her manic and depressive cycles (which I and other people with Bipolar Disorder know all too well). The reader is then thrown into how it feels to live your life not through a lens of normalcy, but one of spontaneity; one of visceral highs and devastating lows. Both provocative and touching, this story is a must-read for anyone wanting to educate themselves on how it feels to never know what’s coming next.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - PTSD
I find that with too many books, whenever there is a storyline regarding trauma, there is a sort of “redemption” arc to it: the protagonist has a traumatic past, then seemingly ‘forgets’ about it and heals, and makes their life better. That is not always the case, though; and this book, having been in certain positions relatable to Jude’s myself, is a stark reminder of that to me and survivors everywhere. Yes, we can find happiness. Yes, we can heal. But no, we can’t- and won’t- forget; and much like my own struggles, and Jude with his, I will never forget this story for as long as I live.
