Same Time Next Week: True Stories of Working Through Mental Illness

by Lee Gutkind (Editor)

In any given year, one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental illness—and yet there is still a significant stigma attached to being labeled as “mentally ill.” We hear about worst-case scenarios, but in many—maybe even most—cases, there is much room for hope. These frank, often intimate stories reflect the writers’ struggles to overcome—both as professionals and as individuals, as current therapists and as former patients—the challenges presented by depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other mental disorders. These dramatic narratives communicate clearly the rewards of helping patients move forward with their lives, often through a combination of medication, talk therapy, and common sense. Collectively, these true stories highlight the need for empathy and compassion between therapist and patient, and argue for a system that encourages human connection rather than diagnosis by checklist.

Content:

Introduction Peter D. Kramer
Editor's Note Lee Gutkind
Foreword Karen Wolk Feinstein
Acknowledgments

Playing Cards with Mr. Newman J. Timothy Damiani
Hope Nurtures the Dream Ronald Bassman
Inside Dan Tomasulo
Paradise/Lost Jennifer Lunden
What Would My Mother Say? Annita Sawyer
The Dictator in My Head Kurt Warner
In Minnesota Once: On Anorexia, Masculinity, and Recovery Owen Vince
Jeannie Miriam Mandel Levi
An American Boy Candy Schulman
I’m Not a Noun Either Tom Mallouk
Indistinguishable Chairs Cassie Eaton
Salvaging Parts Olga-Maria Cruz
Hitbodedut Catherine Klatzker
Live a Little Ellen Holtzman
Illusions of Wellness Katherine Sheppard Carrane
Stalker George Drinka
No Hope? Don't Believe It Sharron Hoy
Came Down a Person Ella Wilson

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Health, Short Stories, Psychology, Essays, Mental Illness, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Lee Gutkind has been recognized by Vanity Fair as “the godfather behind creative nonfiction.” A prolific writer, he has authored and edited over twenty-five books, and is the founder and editor of Creative Nonfiction, the first and largest literary magazine to publish only narrative nonfiction. Gutkind has received grants, honors, and awards from numerous organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Science Foundation. A man of many talents, Gutkind has been a motorcyclist, medical insider, sports expert, sailor, and college professor. He is currently distinguished writer in residence in the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University and a professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this one! I liked a lot of the essays, especially in the first half, because they helped destigmatize and create empathy for a wide range of mental health issues. They included topics that don’t receive as much attention such as schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder. I could tell from some of the essays written by therapists that these clinicians were practicing with a lot of compassion, self-awareness, and skill, which is always nice to read about.

I went from a four star rating to a three star rating for two primary reasons. First, the book didn’t contain much diversity when it comes to authors’ and patients’ racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, and other forms of identity – and the writers didn’t reflect too much on how these identities affect mental health. Second, toward the end of the collection one author writes about holding therapy in a positive light which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Of course her experience is her experience so if she found holding therapy helpful I’m not going to debate that, however, there’s a lot of criticism of holding therapy from professionals in the mental health field due to how it can limit patient autonomy as well as reproduce trauma symptoms. The peer-reviewed research on holding therapy’s efficacy is also scant and mired with methodological limitations. Thus, I wish this had been acknowledged for the sake of promoting ethical clinical practice, especially given that the author is in the mental health field.

Anyway, this was an okay read and I’d recommend the essays in the first half of the collection. One similarish collection that I enjoyed even more is We’ve Been Too Patient , which includes more mental health-related essays that centers people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique book that takes the reader on a personal journey through the eyes of various authors. The book has stories that are written from the heart, that are both brutal in the beginning, but hopeful in the ending. Each story is set up in a way that various types of mental illness are shared. Authors share their rough road with bipolar disorder, anorexia, depression, addiction, severe abuse, etc. No story is alike and that is what makes this book so special. It is a real blessing in disguise and a powerful tool to use as a parent and a caregiver to a child with a mental illness. It is not very often that I see books that have authors come together like this and remind readers that there are positive outcomes, when all there seems like is darkness. As a parent I sometimes feel helpless and worry about my child’s future. It is not necessarily the present that bothers me, but the future when she becomes an adult and is out of my home. This book gave me a great deal of encouragement and reminded me that we as a family have much to look forward to. Bipolar disorder will not control my daughter if we teach her too control it. I am so grateful that the authors of this book took the time to come together to create it. I want them to know that it makes a difference for parents such as myself that are struggling every day with a special needs child. To those other parents that are looking for something a little different and need a good pick me up, I strongly recommend this book. I also recommend this book for my special need families as well. We have to support one another or we just won’t make it. Hang in there everyone, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Stacy Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took notes & highlighted my way through this book, as I like to do with most books on the subject of mental illness, so I can go back and reflect on what aspects of the book really speak to me. In doing so I came across one particular sentence which really did speak to me since I often experience racing thoughts due to my diagnosis with Bipolar II. In the story The Dictator In My Head, a sort of memoir by social worker Kurt Warner who struggles with OCD, Kurt writes early on "...the only true escape from the dictator is in sleep." That is how I often feel about my own mental illness, especially when depressed.

Some writing styles were a little harder to engage with as a reader, but as someone who struggles with mental illness, I was able to relate to the stories as a whole. Salvaging Parts by Olga-Maria Cruz and Illusions of Wellness by Katherine Sheppard Carrane were both examples of engaging and relatable writing.

This book is definitely recommended reading for those living with mental illness, those treating mental illness and those who just want a better understanding of mental illness.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great anthology that explores mental illness, in its many different forms. The stories cover a wide range of illnesses and perspectives. Some stories are written by sufferers, others are written by family, and many others are written by doctors and therapists. The writing style of the authors isn't perfect, and I would have made some editorial changes, but the content is top-notch. The subject matter is intriguing, interesting, and relevant for anyone who deals with mental illness or knows someone who does.

I recommend this book to anyone who has experienced mental illness or suffering, whether personally or remotely. It helps you understand the mental diseases that affect ourselves and the people we love. It helps you get in the mind of the illnesses - it sheds light on so many psychological difficulties. As a sufferer, I was able to relate personally to several stories - those on OCD, depression, and anorexia. However, even the ones to which I could not relate - those on schizophrenia, etc - were intriguing and helped me understand how other people experience the world.

[Brianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No crummy coat, no layers, no smell.
Dolores eyed her up and down, and then glanced back at me. This wasn’t lost on Suzanne.
‘Don’t gloat,’ she said to both of us. ‘It’s just too cold outside. I thought it was time to move the circus inside.’
‘Inside,’ I said, ‘is a very good place for us to go.’ ”

While this book can be difficult to read, I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the wide variety of narrative voices and experiences shared in the book. I definitely recommend reading this because it touches upon an area of our society that is still so misunderstood and stigmatized. The only caveat I would offer is to go slowly and maybe only read one story at a time. That way, you’re able to really appreciate the story, and I found I sometimes needed a break because things were getting a little too dark and heavy.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering the range of mental illness (schizophrenia, mood disorders, OCD, eating disorders, PTSD and more) the voices of patients and clinicians give insight and perspective to the long, hard work of therapy. Some of the writers are mental health service providers who have also had their own journey with mental illness. Stories are funny, tragic, and most of all real.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmm this was pretty good. There were a couple of stories that seemed out of place, either due to tone or writing ability, but overall a very interesting insight into and critique of the field of counselling. I especially liked the essays from people who had been through the system themselves.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never realized how many people who go into mental health seem to be afflicted themselves but I guess it makes sense. This shows a variety of perspectives, from the patient and also from the health care professional.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give 3 1/2 stars if I could.

[Cecilia Cicone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been doing a ton of mental illness research and I am just super grateful for realistic, chill, and normal dissociation and DID representation

[Chelsea Scahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every essay in this. The frustrating parts are there for a reason. A book from the library for now; I will find myself a personal copy someday.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Library Thing Early Reviewer. I chose to request this book because I work in a setting where some of my residents have mental illnesses. I was hoping to find some insight into their minds and maybe how to interact with and understand them better. I did find many of the essays informative and helpful. A good resource for anyone wanting to get an inside look at real people and the issues they deal with.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a loving and responsive mother is preventative. Having a loving and caring adult is restorative.

Every time we fall in love or make a friend, every choice we make to stay, to connect and move with this thing that can only end in loss, in death, loneliness. Every time we choose connection we are risking loss. But every time we do not choose connection we are ensuring it.

Life isn't about control at all, not real life. Real life is vivid and unknown.

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very eye-opening to all the different mental health disorders that happen in this world. It will help the reader understand more about a person’s journey through mental illness and that not all recovery is the same. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about mental health disorders. I also thank everyone in this book for sharing their stories.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appreciated the brave "lived experience" narratives by mental health professionals. Some of the details about what our profession has done in the name of treatment were tough to read, though. We need to do better.

[Harmony Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first and final essays, "Playing Cards with Mr. Newman" and "Came Down a Person" were particularly resonant. Some of the essays in between were less than stellar writing, but the perspectives shared by all of the authors offer important insight.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Troubling, fascinating, thoughtful essays about mental illness and healing and recovery.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. An honest and fascinating look into a myriad of mental illnesses.

[Gato Negro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narratives from therapists who have helped patients; a thought-provoking and fairly heavy read.

[Diane Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight to the different types of mental illness and how both patients and doctors work through their own demons.

[Lindathrashercox.net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting short stories of patients and doctors with mental illness.

[Susie Finkbeiner]

Interesting stories of mental illness. Good for those trying to learn more about the human side of living with a difficult diagnosis.