The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays

after years of ignoring books this was so helpful and interesting, not only did i speed through it, i refer to it all the time, and it got me back into reading. if you or a loved one has schizoaffective, schizophrenia or any psychosis this is a must read

Ms. Wang's collection of essays draws a vivid picture of her schizoaffective disorder, one of the rarest and most severe of mental disorders. As a retired mental health counselor and language arts educator, I find this to be an astonishing memoir. Obviously, the author drew on her many strengths, both personal and professional, in order to accomplish this work. Her use of language, dialogue, relevant detail, and a mix of interior narrative with the exterior observations of other persons, keep the memoir's pace moving forward, although the essays overlap in themes and time. The only feedback I would offer the author would be to include more direct discussion of the role of character, i.e. her willingness to tell the truth to safe others, in her seeking of stability. In my experience, this has more to do with the level of functioning a person with severe mental disorder might achieve than the severity of symptoms. I deal with bipolar disorder and found truth essential to managing my chronic symptoms and to keeping relationships with family, friends, and therapists. Ms. Wang illustrates gratitude for all persons who have helped her, even when she was numb with delusions about them. Her balanced, non-judgemental reporting about the social or professional context of non-helpful interventions-- well, I wish I were that forgiving. Read this book, not only for its insights into the world of mental illness, but to learn what it is to accept a very challenging life on life's terms.

I enjoyed most of this book. However, I think towards the end it really dragged out. There is a lot of fluff throughout the book as well. I also found it difficult to follow the book as there was a lack of flow from topic to topic. Despite this, I would say anyone who treats schizophrenia, or deals with schizophrenia personally should read this book. It provides excellent insight into the illness and gives a fully realized depiction of schizoaffective disorder from onset, to diagnosis, hospitalization, deterioration, medication management and therapy, and finally remission. I think the writer is very brave to tell her story with such detail and honesty. I would recommend.

This well written book is more than just essays. You can get a clear picture of schizophrenia or the schizoaffective disorder. One of the best books out there on the subject.

Wonderfully written and full of important perspectives. It's an excellent and crucial addition to the literature of mental illness. Wang wrestles with complex questions and issues -- having children, diagnoses, treatments, stigma -- but doesn't give easy answers, and instead opens up ideas for the reader to engage with as well.The schizophrenias are complicated and misunderstood. Even with as much as I read about, learn about, and try to advocate for mental health, I still had a lot of wrong ideas and inaccurate views. This book changed my thinking about so much. Plus, Wang writes lyrically and richly. I was sad when I finished it and wished I had even more to read from her. I wish everyone would read this.

This book gave me the chills!!! As someone who has anxiety, some parts of this book scared the hell out of me…. I really feel for the author and admire her.

The RESEARCH. Her personal stories. The way she explained her paranoias and delusions. The way she TORE INTO the failures of the American mental health system: from NAMI to the DSM V to the lack of actual care on the inpatient side of treatment. Her support system and her traumas. I absolutely loved this book… Mrs. Wang put her heart and soul into it. I added most of the books she mentioned to my TBR list. My most favorite book of 2024 thus far.

i was shocked to hear about colleges and universities treating people who have mental illness with such callous disregard.

Llegó en excelentes condiciones

A story of someone who refuses to fade away . An eye opener on mental health institution, psychiatrists and all those who do suffer from mental disorder

The book was in poor condition. I expected a better condition

Wang personal narrative digs deep and shares a multitude of possible reasons for the “schizophrenias.” Clearly, culling out a cure for schizophrenia, either from drugs or genetics, may not be possible in the near future. Her experience of the changing criteria for diagnosis makes the problem itself a moving pseudo-target. She talks of a medication-resistant schizoaffective disorder. We need to acknowledge there is such a thing. What percentage might have it? Can we ever know given the protracted treatment sometimes required? Wang has made me curious about the possible parameters for defining “medication-resistant” given the unabashed narrative of her experiences.She further attempts to provide a reason for schizophrenia in the existential scheme. For example, she implies that schizophrenia may just be part of the evolutionary engine. It may help; say in finding balance between human civilization and nature, along with its instincts. I also agree that what one should do about the condition cannot be addressed in its entirety without attempting to explain, or be free of puzzling over, the how and why of existence, personal adequacy, and even society and civilization. Manifestations of the schizophrenias tear into the very fabric of society and culture.Is Wang a not so common extreme? Is she different in terms of the lack of desired outcomes of her treatment? Are the oscillating manifestations and severity of Wang’s condition unique? Wang’s onsets of manifestations seemingly occur whenever stimulation crosses a threshold. She explains how she sometimes wilfully choose macabre stimulus, which invited extreme moods. Perhaps her threshold of tolerance is different from others with the condition. I tend to tentatively conclude that any person with a similar "diagnosis" be extremely careful in drawing parallels to one's own experience and its treatment. Each person’s threshold could be very different.Wang suffered from a smorgasbord of problems, some may be brought on, and some seem from medical mismanagement. One gets a feel from the narrative that hospitals are not humane. Patients are statistics. They are objects to be pigeon-holed for ease of handling. Hospitals don't take dipstick tests and listen as often as is really required. Many luxuriously assume that patients have all the time in their lives to get better.Wang also confesses that something in her has a deep-set need for recognition. This is similar to how some of the afflicted that are in remission crave. They crave overwhelming achievements to nullify the experience and stigma of schizophrenia. The social definition of "high functioning" to mean being productive in social terms, leaves people with the condition feeling inadequate. I proffer an affected person should instead build from small mercies, for example, I am personally thankful for being able to read. Wang concludes, “I wanted to create a container for what had happened to me and shove the nastiness in.” Seeking supernatural ability or metaphysical cures may be one such container. Each person's container would probably express very differently.The initial read started off by reminding me of Three Men in a Boat, a fictional story by Jerome K Jerome (1889). After doing some research on various diseases, Jerome somehow concludes that he has all the diseases known to man except for housemaid’s knee. But then, I soon came to see, Wang has been dealt a bad hand, and one can't but admire her ability to narrate her experiences in spite of the tremendous pressure she constantly carries. Switching back and forth on the timelines of her life and still retaining gripping coherence is a tribute to her writing prowess. Her conviction proves there is life after the last straw, and her message is one of hope, despite the seemingly bottomless pit.

Clear-eyed, generous writing. An absolutely brilliant book about illness and life that deserves to reach lots and lots of readers. My copy is covered with sticky tabs and I'll definitely re-read sections.