The Center Cannot Hold, My Journey Through Madness

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centercannotholdby Elyn R. Saks

A customer told me about this book as we were discussing Schizophrenia. The subtitle of this is "My Journey Through Madness."  Saks came from a supportive, happy home and was always a good student.  She experienced some OCD type symptoms at around age 8, but went on adjusting and hiding her behaviors, and some growing fears into and beyond Vanderbilt College.  At Oxford, on a philosophy scholarship, she went into full blown schizophrenia - visions, gesticulations, black-outs, hygiene issues, and isolation.  Through seeking out help, she has to break from grad school to be institutionalized and deal not only with her illness, but some of the treatments as well!  With the help of many wonderful professionals, she remarkably makes it through into even teaching ultimately at USC.  It's a fascinating insight into madness.