Madness: Stories of Uncertainty and Hope

by Sean Baumann

'A patient is standing in the middle of the river. He gazes across the water to the city and the mountain above where the sun is setting. His back is turned to the hospital. The nurses are waiting for him patiently on the river bank. He seems uncertain whether to cross the river or to return. There is no danger. He is on the edge, in an in-between space, as is the hospital where I have worked as a specialist psychiatrist for over twenty-five years.'

For many of us, what lies beyond conventional portrayals of mental illness is often shrouded in mystery, misconception and fear. Dr Sean Baumann spent decades as a psychiatrist at Valkenberg Hospital and, through his personal engagement with patients' various forms of psychosis, he describes the lived experiences of those who suffer from schizophrenia, depression, bipolar and other disorders.

The stories told are authentic, mysterious and compelling, representing both vivid expressions of minds in turmoil and the struggle to give form and meaning to distress. The author seeks to describe these encounters in a respectful way, believing that careless portrayals of madness cause further suffering and perpetuate the burden of stigma.

Baumann argues cogently for a more inclusive way of making sense of mental health. With sensitivity and empathy, his enquiries into the territories of art, psychology, consciousness, otherness, free will and theories of the self reveal how mental illness raises questions that affect us all.

Madness is illustrated by award-winning artist Fiona Moodie.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2020

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Baumann writes in his introduction that this book is an attempt to change the harmful ways in which we think about mental health. He worked for more than a quarter of a century as a clinical psychiatrist in the male admissions department of Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town. He was also a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town. He dealt every day with the inner struggle of patients living with mental disorders. His specific interest is psychotic illnesses, especially the schizophrenia spectrum disorders and chronic pain. The chapters include: violence; the idea of ​​madness; the community's attitude towards mental disorders; depression; shame; madness and art; madness and the theater; the biology of madness; and medication.

His stories are respectful, full of empathy and thoughtful. It removes the patients' facelessness under an umbrella term of "disorder". It gives dignity and insight. Some of his descriptions are so full of compassion that it brings tears to your eyes. One or two paragraphs from his case studies were portrayed with so much empathy that it feels like you were there; as if you were part of the event. There are poignant descriptions of a patient who believes the hospital is part of a conspiracy that will cost him his life; Another young man standing halfway up the river, undecided whether to walk to the other side or turn around, returned to the hospital. The nurses stand patiently on shore waiting for him. Months later, another young man is standing in the water. His body is digested by Huntington's disease.

The water is too shallow to drown in. His failed suicide attempt was absurd and futile; only an expression of despair. Another man is stimulated by a voice to take out his own eye with a spoon; Another is preparing to assassinate the president because he is "told" to do so. Baumann writes that the idea of ​​madness is a problematic and controversial one. "Part of the problem is terminology. Madness is a popular term and is outside the conservative field of medicine and permeated by metaphors. He is constantly afraid of being offended, or that he will be misunderstood, because he does not want to hurt anyone who is living with any disorder - or their family and friends. It's the type of book you can read and learn from in pieces rather than a one you read from cover to cover.

It is as if with each new chapter I gained a little more insight into the lonely world in which people with disorders live. Each chapter is strikingly illustrated by Fiona Moodie, an award-winning artist. Her black and white drawings bring the chapter's theme and mood to the forefront before you even read the first word. Baumann's book illustrates to me that his field of specialism is only reserved for a particular type of person - you will definitely not enter this career if you like the spotlight. You are entering a dark world where despair rather than happiness and hope are the mantra. But thanks to people like him, there are safe places where help, hope and healing can happen. A fascinating, comprehensive and wide-ranging read about one of the most prevalent issues of our time. Highly recommended.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounded right up my street, and this was a book I was genuinely really looking forward to reading.
However, I really disliked my reading experience. I was expecting lots of stories looking at different ideas on 'madness' - but what I got was a really dull, dense book of words that mostly went over my head.
I really really did not like this book, and do not think the blurb and the title actual relate to what is inside the book. Not for me!

[Tom Kommando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stories about madness, suffering and hope.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean Baumann worked as a psychiatrist at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, and in Madness: Stories of Uncertainty and Hope, he highlights the experiences of his patients, often in their own words, to try and convey the realities of their lived experiences. What I really appreciated about the book was the way Baumann approaches mental health; he’s quite open about the realities of the system he’s working in, highlighting the issues they face when dealing with patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health issues, and keeps a compassionate, respectful tone throughout when discussing the patients.

As expected, this book comes with a lot of darkness. Baumann also uses the words of patient’s families to convey the impact on them, often alongside those of the patients, offering what can feel like a contrasting view, but highlights the difficulties experienced by everyone in these situations. He does this with compassion, and also spends time explaining his reasoning behind the book and artwork used, as well as his general reaction to portrayals of ‘madness’ in the arts. This is the word I keep coming back to when thinking of this book – compassion. And though a big focus of the book is the impact these disorders have on those affected, Baumann also ensures to highlight the individual personalities of his patients, the way they help each other, and even the rare moments of beauty and humour that come with life working in the hospital.

Baumann very much feels like someone who wishes he could do more for his patients, and as mentioned above he recognises the issues in the system they all find themselves in, the constraints of what can and can’t be done to help. There’s a sense of frustration to this, but ultimately what Baumann tries to convey is how little we truly understand the human brain, and the many, many ways it can function, highlighting the influence society and background can have on mental health, while also showing how, at times, even with advantages, someone can suffer from the kind of disorders discussed within the book.

Overall, I think this is a really well thought out, well put together memoir exploring psychology and giving a valuable insight into some of the most widely misunderstood mental health disorders.