Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111044 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
" A groundbreaking guide for those who are manic depressive of who live with or love someone who is." --"Publishers Weekly"

Synopsis
The actress and a medical reporter describe what it is like to live with manic depression, the latest findings on its probable causes, its wide range of symptoms, and its most effective treatments.

Customer Reviews

finally! Some real answers to all my questions
Patty Duke's book A Brilliant Madness is the first real good information about bi-polar disorder I have been able to put my hands on! The medical backup informatiom that Gloria Hochman contributes has given me an almost umlimited list of resources to also turn to. I read this book because my 9yr old son and my current husband are both diagnosed as bi-polar, but as I read this intense book I was amazed by feelings of fear, relief, sadness, and anger. I was able to relate to much of what I read and began to see myself which is scary. I now want to find help for all of us as our area is devoid of support groups and other local means of coping with this illness. This book is truly "Brilliant" in both the writing style and the content and has given me some hope in an otherwise bleak future. I strongly recomend this book to anyone where Manic Depression has touched their lives.

Very helpful to others with the illness.
I have manic depressive illness. When I was told that this was what was wrong with me I felt very alone, as if I was the only one on the planet who was going through this. I had so many questions, but I didn't know where to begin asking. This book not only answered all my questions, but it was so reassuring to read of the struggles this obviously intelligent (and sane!) woman had gone through. Alternating Anna's story with chapters of a more medical nature made it all that much more real. This was not a theoretical book, but a story of the very real struggles this illness brings into your life. I recommend it to anyone who has this illness themselves, or has a friend or family member with it.

Hope and Possibilities
A Brilliant Madness is helping me through some ofthe saddest days of my life. I fell in love with someone who is bipolar, and our relationship is currently on a fast track to oblivion. Reading this book is helping me understand the illness as well as feelings of those who suffer from the disease and those who love them. There are no easy answers. The frankness with which Patty Duke discusses her life and the facts in alternating chapters are helping me focus on what is possible in a relationship and what the limitations may be. Thank you so much for your insights.