Mental Illness in Fiction

Shalom all. Thanks to the increased awareness mental illness is slowly losing its stigma and people are getting the help and support they need. I have seen quite a few books lately that have dealt with this subject particularly Melody Carlson's Finding Alice, Tracie Peterson's House of Secrets, and DiAnn Mills Attracted to Fire.

Melody Carlson's book Finding Alice was a well written look inside someone suffering from schizophrenia. You follow Alice as the illness take a hold in her life and the struggle that ensues. In the tradition of A Beautiful Mind you watch the story unfold through Alice's eyes. I felt that this book give a good look at schizophrenia and the battle those who suffer from mental illness.

House of Secrets also deal with schizophrenia but from the viewpoint of a family who was affected by a parent's mental illness. I believe the book's message of the problem of secrecy,

the effect of acknowledgment of a mental illness, and support is good. I think it would have been even better if the reader could be shown how someone could successfully deal with schizophrenia and have a good life. I have dealt with depression and anxiety even to the point of hospitalization and it is important that people realize the presence of a mental illness does not have to diminish your life. It has to be dealt with but as I have always been told life is what you make of it and that is very true with mental illness. You might not always feel great but you can always choose joy and make your life that best it can possibly despite the way you might feel inside. Happiness might be fleeting, but joy is a choice.

Attracted to Fire focuses on the effects alcohol, drug use, and lifestyle can aid and abet mental illness. It also deals with the suicidal ideation and cutting which have become more prevalent in society today. It was also a pretty good suspense book that I enjoyed.

If you, or someone you know may suffer from a mental illness please get help. Mental illness is not a death sentence. There are many people out there who suffer from it but have gone on to lead full lives. Just like cancer it must be treated in order for it to be dealt with and is not a matter of mind over matter.

Happy Advent and God Bless,

Nina