The Collected Schizophrenias

Dive into the compelling narrative of 'The Collected Schizophrenias' by Esme Weijun Wang, a profound exploration of mental illness that transcends the conventional understanding of schizophrenia. Officially diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2013, Wang shares her gripping journey through the complexities of a high-functioning life, balancing her prestigious education at Yale and Stanford with the harrowing realities of her condition. This powerful memoir interweaves personal anecdotes with insightful analysis, shedding light on the stigma surrounding mental health and the often-misdiagnosed aspects of schizophrenia. Readers will find themselves captivated by Wang's unflinching honesty as she navigates the churning waters of her mind, confronting terrifying hallucinations and the fear of losing her own identity. From the failures of the higher education system to the intertwined effects of PTSD and Lyme disease, this book masterfully addresses how various factors underscore the experience of living with schizophrenia. Through her analytical lens as a former researcher, Wang balances the heart-wrenching and the informative, making 'The Collected Schizophrenias' a vital contribution to mental health literature. Ideal for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of mental illness, this book invites readers to reflect on what it means to be labeled and judged by a society that frequently misunderstands the nuances of mental health conditions. Order this essential read for your bookshelf today and enhance your comprehension of the complex world of mental health.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780141991535
Format: B-format paperback
Year: 2019
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 224


Description:
'I've inherited a love of a writing and a talent for the visual arts from my mother, as well as her long and tapered fingers; I've also inherited a tendency for madness'

Esme Weijun Wang was officially diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2013, although the hallucinations and psychotic episodes had started years before that. In the midst of a high functioning life at Yale, Stanford and the literary world, she would find herself floored by an overwhelming terror that 'spread like blood', or convinced that she was dead, or that her friends were robots, or spiders were eating holes in her brain. What happens when your whole conception of yourself is turned upside down? When you're aware of what is occurring to you, but unable to do anything about it?

Written with immediacy and unflinching honesty, this visceral and moving book is Wang's story, as she steps both inside and outside of her condition to bring it to light. Following her own diagnosis and the many manifestations of schizophrenia in her life, she ranges over everything from how we label mental illness to her own use of fashion and make-up to present herself as high-functioning, from the failures of the higher education system to how factors such as PTSD and Lyme disease compounded her experiences. Wang's analytical, intelligent eye, honed as a former lab researcher at Stanford, allows her to balance research with haunting personal narrative. The Collected Schizophrenias cuts right to the core and provides unique insight into a condition long misdiagnosed and much misunderstood.