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Darkness Visible
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness | William Clark Styron
The New York Timesbestselling memoir of crippling depression and the struggle for recovery by the Pulitzer Prizewinning author of Sophies Choice. In the summer of 1985, William Styron became numbed by disaffection, apathy, and despair, unable to speak or walk while caught in the grip of advanced depression. His struggle with the disease culminated in a wave of obsession that nearly drove him to suicide, leading him to seek hospitalization before the dark tide engulfed him. Darkness Visible tells the story of Styrons recovery, laying bare the harrowing realities of clinical depression and chronicling his triumph over the disease that had claimed so many great writers before him. His final words are a call for hope to all who suffer from mental illness that it is possible to emerge from even the deepest abyss of despair and once again behold the stars. This ebook features a new illustrated biography of William Styron, including original letters, rare photos, and never-before-seen documents from the Styron family and the Duke University Archives.
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CSeydel
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ImperfectCJ You have May Gray where you are, too? I was just talking to a friend and we were like, seriously...where is the sun? I guess maybe we'll see it in July? 6mo
rubyslippersreads First we have to get through June Gloom. 😏 6mo
40 likes2 comments
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cathysaid
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Kindle deal - $1.99 today. If you or anyone you know suffers from #depression, this book provides such clarity. Life changing for me. Styron details his battle in such a way I finally felt someone could accurately vocalize my feelings. Years ago, my now husband saw it on my shelf & I mentioned how much it helped me. Months later (noticing his increased patience & understanding) I discovered he had quietly read it. ❤ Can't recommend enough.

AkashaVampie I'm going to have to check this out. I've lived with depression for half my life. I wish my hubby liked to read! 5y
cathysaid @AkashaVampie Mine doesn't either. I think when I described the impact it had on me, he understood how much it could help. Also...it's short (100 pages). I had marked it up so much he probably had a little help 😃 5y
Trashcanman I love this book, absolutely love it. And your review is spot on. It is by far my favorite. I even have this on audio book and I hate audio books because he narrates it. Have a great day! 🤗 5y
37 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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ONH
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William Styron is a great author and it was incredibly powerful to read his own account of his struggle with depression. Full of depth and insight — I‘ll be pondering this one for a while.

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Deblovestoread
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1) tagged book, An Old Woman‘s Reflections and The Question of Red
2) In Paris on a chilly evening late in October of 1985 I first became aware that the struggle with the disorder in my mind—a struggle which had engaged me for months—might have a fatal outcome.
3) There is no greater robber than a bad book. It gave me permission to DNF books where before I would read them to the bitter end.

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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cathysaid
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https://bookriot.com/2019/05/08/memoirs-about-mental-illness/

Having been diagnosed with Clinical Depression over twenty years ago, I‘m always on the lookout for solid books about mental illness that are informative and engaging yet not self-pitying. This list from Book Riot looks excellent. Tagged book is the best I‘ve ever read, and I want to read the 3 pictured. Anyone read these? #mentalillness #mentalhealthawareness

GondorGirl I've not read those, but there is some great sounding books on this list. Thanks for the link- I've bookmarked it for later! ❤ 6y
BethM I‘ve only read Girl Interrupted. 6y
EmilyM @cathysaid The Noonday Demon looks really good, as does the one you tagged. I, too, have been diagnosed with clinical depression since I was a junior in high school (I'm 44 now). Is the book you tagged depressing? I like books that make me feel like I am not alone but I don't want books about depression that throw me into a depression. You know what I mean? 6y
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cathysaid @GondorGirl you‘re welcome 😉 6y
cathysaid @EmilyM Absolutely I know what you mean. Most books don‘t seem to be very good. And Noonday Demon looks quite intriguing to me, as does the Vonnegut one. And I can‘t recommend the tagged book enough. Styron captures perfectly the struggle; his was truly the first book I read where I kept saying “exactly!!” throughout...it felt like finally someone put into words what I could never fully describe. 6y
EmilyM @cathysaid Sounds good! I stacked it! 6y
kspenmoll I loved Styron‘s book as well. Noonday Demon is well done; AS research & writing in all his books are fantastic. Vonnegut I have not read.My issue is anxiety but I work with adolescents. Some of whom suffer from depression. (edited) 6y
Trashcanman @kspenmoll Styrons book felt like no other book on the subject I've ever read. It hit so close to home. As much as a tree grows in Brooklyn hit close to home. 6y
kspenmoll @Trashcanman So glad you have Another close to the heart book 6y
Kalalalatja Thanks for posting this! 6y
batsy Thanks for sharing. 6y
cathysaid @kspenmoll I think there were a few memoirs focused on experience with anxiety in the list. 6y
cathysaid @Kalalalatja @batsy You‘re welcome! 6y
saresmoore Thanks for sharing! ♥️ @LauraBeth Just tagging you here in case you haven‘t already come across these titles. 6y
LauraBeth Thanks for sharing this list @cathysaid ❤️and thanks for tagging me @saresmoore 😘 6y
cathysaid @saresmoore @LauraBeth @kspenmoll @batsy @kalalalatja @emilyM @gondorgirl @bethm You‘re all quite welcome. If you read any, let me know what you think. I‘ll do the same. 6y
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jmofo
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Pickpick

I read this book when I was a teenager and it helped me understand that a person could be legitimately depressed and not be an addict. (I grew up in a small town and I had to work to get exposure to the greater world.) I have been struggling lately and took this book down off of the shelf for a little connection. It is helpful and brief, a good companion in difficult times.

Suet624 💕💕💕 6y
jmofo @Suet624 💗💜 6y
Dragon I really liked the tagged book, I remember thinking how well he described depression - stacking this one 6y
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jmofo @Dragon this is the only book of his I‘ve read. He says in this book that suicide and depression come up a lot in his writing and he didn‘t realize it until his struggle in the 80‘s. Have you read any other books of his other than Sophie‘s Choice? 6y
Dragon No only Sophie‘s Choice. I read it a long time ago but it stuck with me. 6y
Trashcanman 🤗💕 6y
jmofo @Trashcanman 🤗 🤗 🤗 back 6y
22 likes7 comments
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Brie
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Pickpick

Novelist William Styron‘s eloquent memoir of his descent into severe depression and eventual hospitalization, as well as his recovery at the end, provide some insight and a glimmer of hope for those also suffering from the illness. Though a highly personal work, there were some passages I strongly related to.

Dragon I remember thinking,when I was reading Sophie‘s Choice , that this author really understands depression. Stacking. 6y
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Bookwomble
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Pickpick

Styron's description of his journey into and away from depression is heartfelt and unflinching. I feel I've only been in the outskirts of a place he's travelled through. There's no map that any other person can follow, no photos or artist's impressions of the terrain, as the landscape can't be described, only felt. Nevertheless, Styron's dispatch from his personal hell does bring some light to the darkness, a hope that if fellow travellers...👇🏼

Bookwomble ... have returned from the dark bourne of depression, so might we.

I was saddened that Styron fell for the falsehoods of "chemical imbalances", a lie concocted at the desks of the marketing department, not in the pharmaceutical lab; and that the DSM has any legitimacy given its own editors admit that it has no scientific underpinning and is actually useless as a diagnostic tool. I hope anybody reading these sections won't take them at face value
6y
13 likes1 comment
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Bookwomble
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I'm finding Christmas Humphreys' book on zen to require more brain power than I can muster whilst sunning myself. I'm not sure a memoir about depression is the answer, but it's the only alternative I've got!

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plaidchuck
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Pickpick

The best description of depression I have ever experienced in any medium.

Wife Welcome to Litsy!🌹 6y
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kspenmoll
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#alonewithme #MarchIntoOz
Variations of #alonewithme. William Styron‘s account of his descent into “madness”; Anne Morrow Lindberg‘s escape to the sea; the single-mindedness of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Cinfhen All three books sound sad 😢 7y
Suet624 Have you read the Stanton book? I liked it. 7y
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cathysaid
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Darkness Visible describes depression perfectly. I never blame those that do not suffer from chronic depression and therefore can't comprehend the frustration and hopelessness; it's impossible to make someone outside of your head truly understand. But as a fellow sufferer, Styron gets it. And by reading just a few pages, by naming it, I find the power of my depression is diminished and I am comforted. #10kGiveaway #DepressionLies

@TK421

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DaniRa
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Mehso-so

Nothing especially shattering but it does open the eyes a little for those who have never been afflicted with depression. I could identify with parts..a short read if you wish to understand a little more.

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cathysaid
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#FiveBooks that influenced me

Harriet the Spy - first smart, strong female character I can remember
Crime and Punishment - sparked my love for Russian literature
Mrs Dalloway - Best. Quote. Ever.
The Sun Also Rises - most favoritest classic and my go-to novel in reading slumps
Darkness Visible - contains the most accurate descriptions of the struggles with depression I've ever read

Jess_Read_This I love how you arranged yours! Great selection too. ❤️ 7y
BarbaraBB Great choices! 7y
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MoniqueChristine I need to read Darkness Visible! 7y
cathysaid @Monique If you or someone you know fights depression, it helps. 7y
35 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
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Just discovered that I had this so I will stop and read it right now. "In Paris on a chilly evening...I first became aware that the struggle with the disorder in my mind...might have a fatal outcome.-William Styron

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Being a psychologist, I probably expect more, I know. However, given his talent as an author, I feel he could have gone more in depth in explaining his experience of depression. The book was mostly factual and seemed to lack feeling. Maybe that would have been too difficult for him and he did his best. 7y
chapter_fifty2017 I havent read this one but i think i have it but from what your saying as a psychologist and yes if you hav read Sophie choice ; you would think it would be deeper . Very interesting reviews 👏👏👏👏👏 7y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads I need to reread Sophie's Choice. Sigh. I agree. There's too many books @chapter_fifty2017 7y
5 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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kspenmoll
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#insaneinthebrain #90sInJuly
This book came to mind when I saw today's prompt.
@Cinfhen @Robothugs

Cinfhen Cool clock 💖book sounds fascinating 7y
LeahBergen I love your clock! 😍 7y
LaraReads Ahhh! I love this pic! Just beautiful! 7y
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Gissy Love the clock and the picture! ❤️👌🏼 7y
kspenmoll @Cinfhen Book is good- written at a time when mental illnesses were talked about even less than now. 7y
54 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
kuhkuhbird
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Pickpick

"Most people in the grip of depression at its ghastliest are, for whatever reason, in a state of unrealistic hopelessness, torn by exaggerates ills and fatal threats that bear no resemblance to actuality." There is much truth in Styron's word. Never have I felt more in common with an author. Page after page, I found myself nodding and speaking to the air in agreement.

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kuhkuhbird
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Never a more succinct description. #truth #depression

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GoneFishing

The pain of severe depression is quite unimaginable to those who have not suffered it, and it kills in many instances because its anguish can no longer be borne. The prevention of many suicides will continue to be hindered until there is a general awareness of the nature of this pain.

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LauraBeth
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Can we talk about my hubby's patronus? My Siberian cat self was scared to go to bed next to him 😂

Laura317 Not even sure what that is! My patronus is a Siberian Cat, too. 8y
pppooraikul It's so special!! And definitely dangerous for a Siberian Cat. 😂 8y
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Laura_Kaihoi lol I have a grey squirrel 🐀 (just pretend that's a squirrel, k?) 8y
LauraBeth @Laura_Kaihoi 😂😂 I've been using this as my squirrel forever 🐿 and since Apple updated the OS and made the emojis bigger - I see now it's a chipmunk - why is there no squirrel 😂 8y
Laura_Kaihoi @LauraBeth LOL two camels but no squirrel?? 8y
MrBook 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
readinginthedark That's awesome, though. I got some kind of dog...don't remember what kind, but I wanted a wild animal. 😕 7y
136 likes1 stack add12 comments