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The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks - 4* - My Review

Elyn Saks is an academic scholar who has suffered from schizophrenia since adolescence. This book is a candid memoir of her struggles with mental health and the mental health system. The narrative blends personal recollections with analytical insights. She provides insight into the terror induced by her breaks from reality. The book addresses the difficulty of maintaining individual autonomy and dealing with the stigma associated with mental illness. Her three lengthy experiences in mental hospitals are horrifying and led to her eventual involvement in patient advocacy.

Saks’s experiences with forced institutionalization, restraints, and heavy medication made her feel deprived of agency. Yet, she also acknowledges that treatment, including therapy and medication, is essential to her stability and success. She argues for a more humane and patient-centered approach to mental health care—one that respects the dignity and potential of every individual.

It is told in chronological order, which allows readers to witness her personal growth in accepting and managing her illness. Saks vividly describes what it feels like to live with this illness, and demonstrates that with appropriate support and treatment, people with schizophrenia can lead rich, fulfilling lives. One aspect I found particularly illuminating is gaining an understanding of why some people with mental illnesses do not want to take medication. I think this book is a must-read for anyone in the mental health field.