Fighting Mad: My Son's Wild Ride through the Mental Health System

by Ana Miranda

Danny Miranda was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at the age of 18. His mother Ana chronicles his long journey toward recovery, as well as her own journey toward acceptance and hope. She describes the impact of Danny's illness on his own life and on his family, as well as the detours, frustrations, heartaches, and occasional miracles they experienced while seeking help for Danny in the public mental health system. Ana writes with feeling and humor even about the most difficult situations. Between chapters, brief "timeout" sections discuss current scientific research on the brain, requirements for involuntary hospitalization, the cozy relationship between doctors and drug companies, and other current issues in the mental health care debate. Fighting Mad has two purposes. The first is to help individuals suffering from a mental illness and those who love them navigate the practical and emotional rapids they experience in seeking effective help. The second goal is to provide physicians and other health-care providers with up-to-date information about the impact of mental illness on individuals and families, and the effect of a broken mental health system on those who depend on it for healing and hope. “In tracing the steps of Danny's journey," says Ana, "I try to be completely honest in describing his experiences and their impact on all of us. I believe at some point every parent of a mentally ill child will face struggles like ours, and I want them to know that they are not alone."

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2011

About the author

Voltada para a linguagem, dotada de um brasilianismo intenso, Ana Miranda realiza um trabalho de redescoberta e valorização do nosso tesouro literário, que a leva a dialogar com obras e autores de nossa literatura, numa época em que as culturas delicadas são ameaçadas pela força de uma cultura universal. Fundada em séria e vasta pesquisa, recria épocas e situações que se referem à história literária brasileira, mas, primordialmente, dá vida a linguagens perdidas no tempo. Sua obra tem sido matéria de estudos na área acadêmica, recebendo teses e monografias, geralmente ligadas a questões de literatura & história, barroco brasileiro, romantismo, ou pós-modernidade. Recebeu alguns prêmios, como Jabutis e da Academia Brasileira de Letras; teve sua obra traduzida em cerca de vinte países, e conquistou expressivo número de leitores, no Brasil. Ana Miranda consagrou-se igualmente pela inclusão de seu Boca do Inferno no cânon dos cem maiores romances em língua portuguesa do século 20, elaborado por estudiosos da literatura, brasileiros e portugueses (O Globo, 5/set/98). Seus principais romances são: Boca do Inferno, 1989; A última quimera, 1995; Desmundo, 1996; Amrik, 1998; Dias & Dias, 2002; Yuxin, 2009. Todos editados pela Companhia das Letras. Nasceu no Ceará, em 1951, onde vive atualmente, após cinquenta anos entre Rio, Brasília e São Paulo.