States of Mind
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A glimpse into the life of a vivacious young woman whose brilliant mind is caught in the ebbs and flows of her mental illness.
PUBLICATION IN 1 VOLUME - COMPLETED WORK
The true story of a spirited young woman whose brilliant mind is caught in the grip of mental illness, known as bipolar disorder. In constant flux between transient euphoria and utter despair, Camille attempts to decode her mind and treat her illness.
However, she discovers that the will of the patient is not always enough to cure the ills of the mind, and the only way she can find a semblance of peace is when surrounded and supported…if not understood. It is this compassion which allows her to stay anchored in life, a buoy ebbing and flowing with the ocean.
STATES OF MIND's strength is in its unabashed and unapologetic account of the destruction and desolation that the disorder causes, but more importantly, the beautiful humanity and compassion that blossom in its wake.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A French father-and-daughter author team composed this turbulent account of the younger Guillon's struggles with mental illness, in order to find meaning in the chaos of their family's experience. Life was proceeding smoothly for college-age Camille (a pseudonym, though the work is a memoir), until a breakup and school-related stress trigger a panic attack. Her emotions spiral violently, and Camille descends to feeling so worthless that she makes a noose from an extension cord and attempts suicide. She spends the following years in and out of mental health clinics, fluctuating between "euphoric phases" and soul-crushing bouts of depression and self-harm. Her parents' nerves run ragged, too. "Please tell me you're pretending! You can't stay here doing nothing!" her mother cries during one clinic visit. Eventually, Camille is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is treated with lithium and therapy, but she still feels anxious due to lingering regret about having missed so much of her young adulthood. Artist Samson's simple, adroit characterizations and clean linework, with thoughtful shading, present the violent turns of Camille's zig-zagging journey, though the script (or translation) often recounts with a neutral distance that limits its emotional resonance. This winding catalogue through the course of mental illness should appeal to fans of Ellen Forney and Rachel Lindsay.
