An Unquiet Mind Summary

The study conducted by Rusner et al. (2009) is almost a compilation of case studies. They explore the “lived experience” of individuals with bipolar disorder. The information presented is helpful and provides insight into what the world of someone struggling with this illness must be like. However, I feel that the authors were trying to summarize too much information. Each individual’s experience is different and by trying to summarize the worldview of all of these individuals I feel like the authors are making leaps and bounds that cannot be made. I believe all that can be taken from this study is that individuals with bipolar disorder feel as though they are “not normal” and feel and express all emotions to the extreme. Additionally, they feel this sense of non-normalcy regardless of whether they are in a manic or depressed state. …show more content…
Kay is a Psychologist and has spent much of her career studying bipolar disorder and it’s treatments. The way that she explains this disorder from both the eyes of a clinician and a sufferer is unlike any other account I have read. It is both informative and paints a vivid picture of what her experience has been with the disease. However, it is apparent in her account that although some of her experiences are similar to all others living with bipolar disorder, other experiences are deeply personal and occurs due to her upbringing and environment. This is to say that although there is similar symptomology experienced by everyone who has bipolar disorder, it is a strenuous task to begin to summarize the lived experience of ALL individuals with this