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“I have found it to be seductively complicated, a distillation both of what is finest in our nature, and of what is most dangerous” (Jamison, 1995, p.5). In “An Unquiet Mind”, Kay Redfield Jameson takes the readers through her experience dealing with manic-depression. Kay was happy and well rounded during her childhood. She developed interest for poetry, school plays, science, and medicine, and was strongly encouraged by her parents. She was surrounded with good friends, a close-knit family, and great quantities of laughter. Kay’s sister, who was 13 months older, described her as “the fair haired one” in the family, whom friends and schoolwork came too easily. Due to her father’s involvement in the Air Force as an officer, Kay attended elementary school near the Andrews Air Force Base, outside Washington. Tradition and high expectations came along with being part of a “military family”. “Expectations were clear, and excuses were few; it was a society that genuinely believed in fair play, honor, physical courage, and willingness to die for one’s country”(Jamison, 1995, p.28). Kay felt an elevated level of security while living within the walled-off military world. However, this was shaken due to the emotional distress that resulted from witnessing a traumatic plane crash during Kay’s second year of elementary school. In the middle of recess, along with the rest of her second-grade class, Kay stood paralyzed from fear as a plane fell from the sky, just missing the playground and exploding right in front of the children’s eyes. During the days following the crash, it became known that the pilot had sacrificed his life in order to steer the plane as far away from the playground as possible. If he had not done so, he would have risked... ... middle of paper ... ... positive effect on her road to recovery. Their knowledge on the subject was helpful in recognizing her illness and encouraging her to take lithium. However, she struggled with taking lithium on a consistent basis. She recurrently made the mistake of discontinuing use once her mood was normal, only to find herself slipping back into depression. Whenever taking lithium, Kay would become frustrated due to side effects that impaired her senses and mainly her ability to read. At age 32, in response to the unexpected death of her lover, the struggle with lithium ceased and she was given incentive to take it regularly. This was the main tipping point from illness to health, and Kay was gradually able to experience happiness again. She had a mission to keep herself healthy, and a determination to improve the treatment and care for others affected by this dreadful disorder.

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