You become aware of an illness by understanding yourself and understanding the meaning that that illness has in your own life, symbolically and, more importantly, quite literally.
Kay Redfield JamisonI, quite literally, woke up from a coma, from having tried to kill myself and it was very clear to me what my psychiatrist had been saying for years. The choice is not between a drug that has side effects or not, life is not ideal. Yes, your drug has side effects and yes if you don't take it you're going to die.
Kay Redfield JamisonI had been simply treating water, settling on surviving and avoiding pain rather than being actively involved in seeking out life.
Kay Redfield JamisonMost people don't have the advantage of being able to evaluate their doctor in advance.
Kay Redfield Jamison