THE FACE OF DEPRESSION

A long-term sufferer of depression finds hope in a new treatment in this memoir.

“No one was sensitized to emotions in the ’70s,” writes the author, reflecting on the era in which she says that she suffered a nervous breakdown. She describes the buildup to the moment in 1975that she found herself crying uncontrollably, reflecting upon her upbringing by parents for whom “nothing I did was ever enough.” After graduating from New York University with a degree in English, Brunner had various jobs; at 23, she worked as a model in New York City but struggled with self-hatred. She also discusses her time at CNN, where she worked as a talent coordinator on Larry King Live and was later groomed for an anchor slot. Throughout, she describes depression as a secret she kept, something that “no one knew.” The author shares the stress of failed marriages, coping with illness and grief, and unsuccessful depression treatments. The memoir then skips to 2014 to touch briefly upon her experience with transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, a noninvasive form of brain stimulation that helped her find “a sense of true wellness.” Brunner’s memoir is fast-paced and brims with positivity despite its weighty subject matter. The author’s primary aim is to challenge the stigma of mental illness and encourage others to seek help. Her life story is one that many people dealing with depression and anxiety will find relatable, and she writes candidly and sometimes vividly about her experience; at one point, she notes, “I was alone in my own world, absent from my mind and soul. Separate from everyone. Fear coated the inside of my skin.” That said, the memoir, which features the author’s own photos, feels somewhat underdeveloped. Many chapters seem overly brief, glossing over key moments; most significantly, the period in which Brunner received TMS is confined to a two-page epilogue and doesn’t adequately elaborate on its “life-transforming” qualities. Overall, this memoir offers hope but minimal insight into TMS treatment.

A poignant portrait of mental illness, but one that lacks vital detail.