Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho

24 reviews

annatl4's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

This book brought awareness to a mental illness that is very under discussed. Catherine’s description of her psychosis and experience in the psych ward was beautifully painful. The story felt so raw and honest, allowing the reader to really understand what a toll this illness took upon her and her family. Her description of her upbringing intertwined with her experience in the psych ward added an extra layer to the memoir. She explains the shortcomings of united states psych wards when dealing with postpartum psychosis and how that led to more suffering for her. Despite this being a difficult read, it is important to hear these things to better advocate for women in the health field. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Domestic abuse

katetv's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.5

Whew, her writing is so vivid. I felt her journey through postpartum psychosis so acutely, and relived my caregiving experience. I'm grateful for her clear record of what that was like, and to have compassion for those going through similar. Had to read in a day, too gripping.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

akswaneee's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

marlanaperry77's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

4.5

A really powerful and honest memoir about motherhood. The last line was beautiful and I understand why she ended the book on that note, but I would have loved to see more of her recovery. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Pregnancy

ratchel_l's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Medical trauma

_almasoul's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

Minor: Self harm, Blood, Child death, Dementia, Miscarriage, and Stalking

ehmannky's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

A really raw look at Cho's experience having postpartum psychosis, the depressing state of America's mental health institutions and just how dehumanized patients with psychosis are in the United States, and a look at her life up until her psychosis. It's really good, but Cho really describes her psychosis and it's hard to read. Additionally, she experienced abuse as a child and by a previous partner (her husband as of this book seems like a really great guy), and she describes both pretty thoroughly. A good read, but it is heavy.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

quinnjuliac's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

You know how some memoirs are not good books, they’re just written by someone with a good story to tell? That is not this book. This is an amazing and gripping account of postpartum psychosis, past trauma from physical and emotional abuse, parenthood, and the love between the author and her husband. It was challenging for me to read as someone who has had someone close to me spend time in inpatient mental health facilities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Child abuse

isaarusilor's review against another edition

challenging sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

alicelalicon's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Medical content