THE PRISON OF MY MIND

by Barbara Field Benziger ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 1969

This is Mrs. Benziger's totally unpretentious but quite direct and unclouded view of the pathological depression, with suicidal inclinations and hallucinations, she experienced some years ago. From her first overwhelming sense of dread, to later episodes of panic, increasing sleeplessness and retreat, she began to fall apart and was first committed to the ""bad"" hospital with full custodial restraints and an indifferent, arrogant doctor. She was able to leave it and after an interim period outside finally found the ""good"" hospital (New York Presbyterian's Neurological) and a doctor with whom she established a rapport. Shock treatment was finally essential but enabled her to make a reassessment of her life and an at first shaky return to the world. Her comments on the stigma attached to mental illness, and the necessary changing trends in institutional care, are pertinent (emphasized in the introduction by Dr. Robert Coles) while, even during her most disordered phase, she keeps well in contact with the reader at a personal level.

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION