I Haven't

Had to Go Mad

Here

The psychotic's journey

from dependence to autonomy

Joseph H. Berke

a Pelican Book

A caterpillar shelters in the protection of its chrysalis
until it has grown its strong, brilliant wings of
responsibility and autonomy.

When someone breaks the social and emotional codes of
behaviour he is usually labelled as 'mentally ill,' deprived
of his autonomy, stifled with drugs, ECT or
psychosurgery, mainly, the author argues, for the benefit
of society and the medical profession.The patient,
meanwhile, retreats into an immobilizing dependence,
from which he may never emerge.

This book describes Joseph Berke's experiences at his
Arbours Centre, where psychosis and distress are
regarded as important human experiences, to be
accepted, lived through and shared, not condemned.
There, sheltered within a cocoon of constructive care,
patients are given the space, the time and the
encouragement to do, to be, and to become more than
they have previously been allowed'

The results of this approach as seen here provide
important counterpoint to accepted methods of dealing
with 'madness'.

Cover illustration by Peter Bentley

BACK