Out of the Darkness
Historically, open discussions of mental illness have been difficult, often taboo. Brave and honest storytelling attempts to break those barriers so that we might learn how lives are affected by diseases of the mind.
In our program, “Out of the Darkness: Stories About Mental Illness in Families,” two authors shed light on mental illness in families through their writings – one in fiction, one through memoir. Florence Reiss Kraut, author of How to Make a Life (historical fiction), and Marlena Maduro Baraf, author of At the Narrow Waist of the World, shared their stories about how mental illness affects family relationships.
Florence and Marlena offered these perspectives:
“In writing our books we mined our own life experiences living with and working with individuals who struggle with mental illness. We have the greatest empathy for those who suffer from mental illness and those who try to help them live well in the world.
We want to stress how important family and family support is to a person who suffers from mental illness. They need the love and care of their family to help them navigate problems they encounter as they move in the world. Individuals who suffer from mental illness – chronic or acute – need to know they are loved, accepted, and understood.
But it is not only the patient who needs support. Family members often are deeply troubled with feelings of failure and disappointment in themselves and what they have been able to do or not do for their child, or parent, or sibling. They need help from others – from friends, others in the family, therapists, and from professional groups like NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness). None of us can do it alone.
All of us stand on the shoulders of those who came before. If they struggled with mental illness, perhaps we can learn from these experiences and understand our own lives a little better.”
Books that Florence and Marlena recommend
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is an intimate portrait of Aza, an adolescent struggling with the pervasive fear of bacteria and her compulsive need to clean her self-inflicted cuts to avoid infection. It is heartbreaking and uplifting as Aza fights to overcome her fears and live a normal life.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - a classic that describes a woman’s descent into depression and eventual recovery. It movingly describes the mental breakdown of a young woman struggling to find herself in a world where societal norms make it almost impossible for a woman to fulfill her desires and potential.
The Memory Palace by Mira Bartók - Two daughters yearn for contact with their mentally ill mother--despite a painful history. Speaks to the capacity for family forgiveness and to the essential and profound mother knot.
Stuffed by Patricia Volk - The joyous adventures of a restaurant family in New York. A memoir about a big, vibrant, loving family – and food. The author dedicates chapters to her grandmother, grandfather, sister, and aunts, revealing the critical role that family members play in forming the young.
You’re welcome to contact Florence at www.florencekreisskraut.com and Marlena at www.marlenamadurobaraf.com.
Check out chipublib.org for other books and other materials on mental health and wellness.