A secret life of madness

[Sequoia]

A respected scholar and USC law professor reveals her journey through the horrors and demons of mental illness. She has schizophrenia.

Dressed in a blue power suit, Elyn Saks addressed a gathering of psychologists here with the quiet demeanor of an intellectual sure of her academic resume: college valedictorian, Oxford scholar, Yale law student, USC legal professor.

But her words were not serene. They evoked nightmares.

Over 30 years, as she forged her career, she wrestled with uncouth visions, violent commands and suicidal impulses, Saks explained to her listeners. In her worst moments, the TV made fun of her, ashtrays danced and walls collapsed. Sure she was a witch, she burned herself as punishment with cigarettes, lighters and electric heaters. She believed she was single-handedly responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. The brains of close associates were taken over by aliens.

Fearful of rejection, she told no one about her inner strife, other than her doctors and closest friends, even as she was hospitalized, force-fed anti-psychotic drugs and lashed to metal gurneys. She became an exhibit, she recalled, a specimen, "a bug impaled on a pin and helpless to escape."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-madness10sep10,0,4313873.story?page=1&track=mostviewed-storylevel

Someone here at DU had posted about her book about a month ago. What an amazing person. It sure hits close to home.

[Delphinus]

1. Will read later ...

I work with the mentally handicapped often - not schizophrenia, so am looking forward to hear what she says.

I've also worked with Alzheimer's patients and have seen their struggle to get a point across.

[mdmc]

2. kicking

:toast: