Alana

Memoirs give us the unique ability to enter the mind and experiences of someone suffering from a mental illness, addiction, or disorder. To truly be immersed in someone's story is invaluable and necessary in understanding what they're going through. Here are my top 10, must-read memoirs that deal with these struggles. 1. Loud in the House of Myself by Stacy Pershall A captivating and unflinchingly honest memoir about one young woman's struggle with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. 2. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen Perhaps you've seen the movie, but the book is well-worth a read. It focuses on Kaysen's time spent in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. 3. Manic by Terri Cheney Cheney spares no detail when sharing the exploits of her most manic moments. 4. Purge: Rehab Diaries by Nicole Johns The memoir is told in a series of vignettes based on the three months that Johns spent in eating disorder rehabilitation treatment. 5. Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith A compelling and detailed memoir about one man's struggle with anxiety disorder. 6. Love Sick by Sue William Silverman An intimate recounting of the month Silverman spent in a rehab center for sexual addition. 7. Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison Asperger's is much talked-about, yet little-understood. Robison encounters his own unique set of challenges resulting from this neurological disorder. 8. An Unquiet Mind by Kay Jamison Jamison details her experiences with manic depression, as well as the insights she's gained through her academic study of mental health. 9. I Am Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer-Purcell Kilmer-Purcell tackles the difficult, and often stigmatized, themes of alcohol abuse and addiction. He manages to address addiction in a way that is relatable without being sentimental or stereotypical. The book also sheds light on various rehabs like the tampa rehab. 10. My Thirteenth Winter by Samantha Abeel This young adult memoir tackles the issue of learning disabilities, in addition to the resulting social and clinical anxiety that can manifest as a result.