Psychiatric Tales, by Darryl Cunningham

[rachelmanija]

This graphic novel recounts episodes from Cunningham’s stint working in a psychiatric hospital in spare black-and-white panels. Each story is organized around a different mental illness, and while the stated intent is to de-stigmatize, Cunningham does not flinch from the gross and disturbing. Trigger warning for everything under the sun.

I bought this on the strength of the “Bipolar Disorder” chapter, which is posted online, and is honest and funny without being mocking. That and the final chapter, about Cunningham’s own struggle with depression and anxiety, were the strongest in the book.

The graphic novel was well-done, but I was left wanting more – both more stories, and more depth and detail in what was there.

Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories About Mental Illness

Comments

[kore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it great? I just got it too - v good!

Yeah, I did want a bit more, too....I do think it would be a great thing for waiting rooms, tho, or even to have kicking around in clinics or hospitals for people and visitors to read.

The bipolar chapter has one of my favourite depictions of mania ever: "I've bought a car!" "You can't even drive." Also, Jesus, people in the grip of mania really do NEVER SHUT UP, EVER.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

"Did you know? A cow has four stomachs!"

[kore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

And the thing is, their attention span and tracking is for shit, so they start repeating themselves, BUT ALSO they never finish talking about the topic they started, so listening to it for a while is nervewracking. You can practically see their poor little neurons frying. Untreated severe mania really does bear whacky resemblances to schizophrenic thought patterns (which is weird because isn't that a "thought disorder"? Those are supposed to be qualitatively different, I think....).

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

It's also a bit like talking to someone who's really high. "How come animals have legs instead of wheels?"

[kore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

HA
YES

[baka-kit.livejournal.com]

people in the grip of mania really do NEVER SHUT UP, EVER.

OMG, so true; what was worse was that I knew I was yammering out of control but I couldn't do anything about it. I'd apologize and shut up for two minutes but then I'd start yapping again.